Despite a Supreme Court decision that forced mandatory military service on them, the nation’s ultra-Orthodox Jews are against conscription.
As the Israeli military issued the first 1,000 fresh draft orders to male Haredi community members on Sunday, clashes broke out between Israeli police and ultra-Orthodox Jews.
According to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, hundreds of Haredi Jews blocked Route 4 close to Bnei Brak, a significant ultra-Orthodox settlement east of Tel Aviv.
The newspaper stated that the demonstrators, who saw the draft instructions as a “attack on their traditions and way of life,” blocked the roadway in all directions and demanded that they be revoked.
The draft instructions, which were authorized by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant prior to his removal earlier this month, are among the 7,000 that are anticipated to be sent to the Haredim in the days ahead.
Yair Lapid, the head of the Israeli opposition, demanded earlier in the day that any ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse military duty be denied money and passports.
Clear directives
Even though the Supreme Court ruled in June that the Haredim, like other Israeli citizens, must serve in the military, they still resist conscription.
A bill to guarantee that about 60,000 observant Jews can continue to escape military duty each year is being pushed by parties in the ruling coalition.
Israel Katz, the recently appointed Israeli Defense Minister, has been specifically urged by Lapid and his followers to order the Haredim to conscription.
About 13 percent of Israel’s 9.9 million people are Haredi Jews, who spend their lives studying the Torah, the Jewish sacred book, and usually do not serve in the armed forces.
All Israelis above the age of 18 are required by law to serve in the armed forces, and the Haredi exemption has been a divisive topic for many years.
