Thousands of Haredim protest in Jerusalem against Israeli military service

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as Haredim, protested in west Jerusalem on Tuesday against military conscription, describing the Israeli army as the “enemy army”, Hebrew-language media reported.

Channel 12 reported that the march, attended by thousands of Haredim, was held “in honour of draft evaders who were recently released from military prison”.

The channel said the march began in Jerusalem’s Geula neighbourhood, leading to the closure of several roads. It added that money was due to be distributed to those refusing military service at the end of the march, with each receiving hundreds of shekels. The dollar is worth about three shekels.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the draft evaders arrived at the march by bus and were greeted with loud cheers.

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Protesters carried signs reading: “Release the abductees from Prison No. 10 [military prison], they will never serve in the enemy army.” Others carried signs saying: “We would rather die than enlist.”

Haredim make up about 13 per cent of Israel’s population of more than 10 million. They have traditionally refused military service, saying they need to devote themselves to studying the Torah and that integration into secular society threatens their religious identity.

The dispute over Haredi military service has intensified as hundreds of reservists continue to be called up amid ongoing escalation on several fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and the occupied West Bank.

For decades, members of the community have repeatedly received deferments from military service on the grounds that they were studying at religious seminaries, until reaching the current exemption age of 26.

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