A recent protest near Tel Aviv saw dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredi) block a major highway, bringing traffic to a standstill. Their anger was sparked by the arrest of a draft evader from their community who, with the help of fellow protesters, reportedly managed to escape military police, even overturning a police vehicle in the commotion.
This dramatic incident highlights a long-standing and deeply divisive issue in Israel. Military service is compulsory for all 18-year-olds, both men and women. However, the Haredi community, which makes up about 13% of Israel’s population, believes military service threatens their unique religious identity and way of life. They dedicate their lives to intense Torah study, viewing it as a spiritual contribution vital to the nation, and argue that integration into the military clashes with their strict religious observances and community structure.
For decades, ultra-Orthodox men have largely avoided service through a system of repeated deferments for religious study, often until they reached the age of exemption, currently 26. Prominent rabbis actively encourage followers to resist the draft, urging them to “tear up enlistment orders.” This historical arrangement has long been a source of contention, with many secular and modern Orthodox Israelis arguing for equal burden-sharing. As these escalating protests demonstrate, the debate over religious freedom versus civic duty continues to flare, creating significant social and political ripples across the nation.
