Clashes Erupt in Israel as Ultra-Orthodox Jews Protest Military Draft
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Israeli media are reporting intense clashes between ultra-Orthodox Jews, who oppose mandatory military service in the Israeli army, and police officers. The confrontations occurred as police attempted to transfer draft evaders from the Abu Kabir detention center, with the ultra-Orthodox community attempting to secure the release of those resisting military enlistment.
The Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, are an extremist branch of Orthodox Judaism that emerged in Eastern Europe in the 19th century. The term ‘Haredi’ originates from the Hebrew root ‘harad,’ meaning ‘fearful of God,’ reflecting an ideology that perceives any contact with the modern world as a threat to religious purity. Key intellectual figures of this movement, such as Rabbi Moshe Sofer, strongly opposed the Jewish Enlightenment movement (Haskalah) and advocated for a return to authentic Torah traditions as the sole means of preserving religious identity. Following the collapse of Jewish communities in Europe, many adherents of this sect immigrated to the Israeli regime, establishing insular communities in various locations across the occupied territories, including Tel Aviv.
The Haredi population in the Israeli regime is currently estimated at around 1.3 million, constituting 13 to 14 percent of the total Zionist population. Socially, men dedicate most of their time to studying the Torah in ‘yeshivas’ (religious seminaries) and refrain from participating in the labor market. Women bear the responsibility of managing the family’s economic affairs, although their incomes are typically below average.
Theologically, Haredim adhere to a literal interpretation of the Torah and Talmud, believing the world is governed by 613 divine commandments (mitzvot). Within this framework, continuous Torah study is considered a universal duty, and they believe the survival of the Israeli regime depends not on military strength but on the continuation of these studies. From this perspective, many view democracy and Zionism as secular concepts that conflict with the principle of divine sovereignty.
The primary demands of the Haredi community from the Israeli regime’s cabinet are concentrated on three main points: first, sustained financial support for religious seminaries, which incurs an annual cost exceeding one billion shekels; second, strict adherence to Shabbat laws, prohibiting public activities on Saturdays; and third, gender segregation and the prevention of mixed-gender environments in educational and social settings. They see these demands not as concessions but as essential tools for maintaining faith against the cultural onslaught of the modern world.
One of the most fundamental points of contention between the Haredi community and the cabinet is the issue of compulsory military service. Since the establishment of the illegitimate Israeli regime in 1948, the cabinet has granted exemptions from military service to a limited number of Haredim, ostensibly to show respect for religious institutions. This temporary decision gradually evolved into a permanent practice, with approximately 13,000 individuals currently benefiting from this exemption annually. However, the rapid population growth of the Haredim has transformed this exemption into a sensitive issue. The Haredi perspective holds that the army contradicts religious principles: a mixed, secular environment, the violation of Shabbat, and distance from religious centers are all factors that render military service religiously impermissible in their view. Conversely, from the secular society’s standpoint, this exemption is perceived as unfair and unjustified, as it shifts the burden of military service onto other segments of the population.
