Ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest military draft with 'better death than army'

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters have mobilized across Israel to resist mandatory military service requirements, staging demonstrations that disrupted major transportation routes throughout the country. The widespread protests featured participants chanting "better death than the army" and expressing willingness to face imprisonment rather than comply with conscription orders.

Protest Locations and Police Response

Demonstrators blocked critical highways in central, northern, and southern Israel, including Highway 4 near Bnei Brak and Bar-Lev Street in Jerusalem, where some protesters threw stones at vehicles and obstructed light-rail operations. Police authorities confirmed deploying forces to clear blocked roadways and redirect traffic around what they characterized as "violent, illegal protests" occurring simultaneously in multiple cities.

Legal Context and Arrest Triggers

The civil unrest followed military police detentions of three yeshiva students who had refused compulsory enlistment. These arrests implemented a June 2024 Supreme Court decision that eliminated longstanding exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men and prohibited state funding for religious seminaries whose students avoid military service obligations.

Demographic and Political Dimensions

Ultra-Orthodox communities, comprising approximately 13% of Israel's population, maintain that military service threatens their religious traditions and community structures centered around Torah study. The political controversy has intensified with opposition lawmakers accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pursuing legislation to permanently exempt Haredim to secure support from ultra-Orthodox political parties.