Jerusalem protests turn violent over ultra-Orthodox military conscription

Around 200,000 ultra-Orthodox protesters converged on Jerusalem on Thursday, opposing the country’s military plan, leaving dozens injured in clashes with police.

Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom reported that 56 people were injured. A police officer was also injured after being hit by stones thrown by protesters.

The rally closed main roads leading to the capital, as protesters across the country gathered to oppose efforts to conscript ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, men into the Israel Defense Forces. At times, the protest turned violent as police moved to clear blocked highways and restore order.

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Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli army, in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 30, 2025. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Photo)

At the heart of the unrest is a long-standing exemption that allows ultra-Orthodox men who study full-time in religious seminaries to avoid military service — a policy that many Israelis view as deeply unfair.

Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women, but Haredi Jews have always been exempt, a privilege dating back to the founding of Israel. They argue that their lifestyle – centered on Torah study and religious community – is incompatible with full military service. They fear that conscription will undermine their religious identity, expose them to secular values, and erode the distinct community structures they have built.

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Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli army, in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 30, 2025. (Mahmoud Illéan/AP Photo)

As Israel wages wars on multiple fronts over the past two years, the army faces a growing manpower shortage, prompting renewed efforts to end the exemption. The Supreme Court ruled last year that the arrangement was unconstitutional, ordering the government to pass a new conscription law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins other government ministers during a plenary session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025. (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)

The decision shook Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. Its ultra-Orthodox allies – the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties – left the government in July, accusing it of betraying their religious base. Parliament has yet to agree on a compromise acceptable to both Haredi leaders and the military.

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Opposition leaders condemned the violence. Yair Lapid wrote on X: “If you can walk the streets, you can walk in basic training and defend the State of Israel. » Benny Gantz added, referring to a video of a journalist being attacked: “There is nothing Jewish about this behavior. »