War in the Middle East - Angry protests by ultra-Orthodox Israelis against compulsory military service
In Israel, thousands of ultra-orthodox men protested against the court-ordered conscription into the Israeli army. According to local media reports, violent clashes occurred last night in Jerusalem with the police. The law enforcement officers reportedly tried to disperse the demonstrators, who were dressed in black, with mounted police and a water cannon. Police officers were reportedly attacked and pelted with stones. Five rioters were arrested.
The trigger for the protests was a recent ruling by the highest court of the country, which now requires ultra-orthodox men to be conscripted into the military service. This ruling is seen as a setback for the religiously-right wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
For decades, ultra-orthodox men in Israel were exempted from military service. However, these exemptions expired three months ago. Netanyahu's government failed to pass a law that would have cemented these exemptions. In response, the highest court ordered the state to withdraw subsidies for ultra-orthodox men of military age who study in religious schools.
State Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara decided at the end of March that the military was obligated to draft the previously largely exempted religious students. According to the court, this affects 63,000 men. The army warned recently, due to the Gaza war, of a drastic shortage of combat soldiers. Moreover, many Israelis view it as unfair that ultra-orthodox Jews are exempted from weapons service and dangerous combat missions.
- Due to the court's ruling, compulsory military service for ultra-orthodox men in Israel has become a contentious issue in Benjamin Netanyahu's domestic policy.
- The clashes in Jerusalem over compulsory military service highlight the broader tensions between secular and ultra-orthodox segments of Israeli society.
- The Middle East region has been watching the developments in Israel closely, as compulsory military service is a critical component of many countries' defense strategies.
- Critics of Netanyahu's government argue that justice should be served evenly, requiring all men, including ultra-orthodox ones, to perform military service.
- The Israeli military has been struggling with manpower issues, as the expiration of exemptions for ultra-orthodox men has led to a shortage of combat soldiers, exacerbating the challenges posed by regional conflicts.
