Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel have launched mass protests against the arrest of draft evaders, local media report.
According to those reports, a group of protesters recently stormed the home of the head of the military police in Ashkelon, after which 25 people were detained. The following day, demonstrators blocked the entrance to Jerusalem.
Haredim, who make up about 13% of the country’s population of roughly 10 million, have traditionally refused military service, saying they devote their lives to Torah study. During the protests, chants included “We would rather die than be drafted into the army”, and participants also burned the Israeli flag.
As Yedioth Ahronoth writes, the demonstrations were triggered by the Israeli army’s decision to resume its campaign of arresting draft evaders this week—after a period of relative calm during the war with Iran.