200,000 Ultra-Orthodox Jews Paralyze Jerusalem Protesting Israeli Military Draft

About 200,000 ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men shut down Jerusalem in a mass protest against plans to draft yeshiva students.

“The article reveals serious abuses at Israel’s Sde Teiman prison, where a UN report documented at least 135 mutilated Palestinian bodies, along with beatings, sexual violence, and harsh conditions affecting detainees, including children”

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They blocked key entry roads and paralyzed the city after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled blanket exemptions illegal.

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Organizers presented the event as a prayer vigil, but the scale and disruption were massive, with crowds filling major routes under the banner “March of the Million.”

The government is pushing to increase enlistment and has begun issuing draft notices.

Coalition partners from ultra-Orthodox parties demand a permanent exemption, putting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government at risk.

Protesters insist army service violates their religious lifestyle and argue their Torah study protects Israel.

Many Israelis now see exemptions as unfair amid wartime mobilization.

On the ground, ultra-Orthodox protesters attacked two ultra-Orthodox soldiers, a police officer, and journalists.

Some protesters entered construction sites and climbed cranes, resulting in a 15-year-old boy falling to his death.

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After organizers ended the event, remaining protesters fought with border police at Jerusalem’s entrance.

Other reports note fires and unrest, while Asian coverage highlights a citywide shutdown.

The protest’s tactics—including blocking roads, mass prayer, and direct attacks—led to injuries, a confirmed death, and ongoing street confrontations.

The confrontation stems from court-ordered conscription and competing claims about national service.

“The article details rising tensions in Israel over the treatment of Palestinian detainees following a recent ceasefire”

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Haredi leaders say army life violates their religious lifestyle and that study and prayer safeguard Israel.

Some rabbis and a small but growing number of Haredim accept enlistment for those not studying full-time.

Government allies warn that forced conscription could fracture Netanyahu’s coalition.

Reservist leaders and opposition figures demand equal burden-sharing, citing heavy wartime casualties and repeated tours.

Defense officials also question how the army can accommodate strict Haredi practice if conscription expands.

While Jerusalem’s streets were blocked, Israel’s internal crisis also played out in its treatment of Palestinian detainees and the battle over legal oversight.

A UN report documented at least 135 mutilated Palestinian bodies at Sde Teiman prison, with beatings, sexual violence, and harsh conditions.

Evrim Ağacı

Israel’s top military lawyer resigned after admitting she leaked an assault video.

Far-right ministers defended accused soldiers and attacked judges.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pushed for the death penalty for Palestinians and backed purges of legal officials.

These moves, along with reservists’ anger over casualty burdens and repeated service, show a government fighting protesters at home while Israel’s war in Gaza continues to drive a harsher security state.

Beyond Israel, Haredi draft resistance is global.

“Tomer-Yerushalmi leaked a video to challenge false propaganda and support military ethics”

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Earlier, over 10,000 men rallied in New York City against conscription.

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Inside Israel, the community reports arrests of yeshiva students and says they face persecution.

At the same time, a minority within the ultra-Orthodox world accepts service for those not studying full-time.

A small but growing number have joined the army, though most still refuse.

Many Israelis resent the exemption system.

Asian and local outlets warn that these protests and the draft crisis threaten political stability and social cohesion.