Ultra-Orthodox Riot to Protest Draft

Jerusalem, 8 February, 2017 (TPS) -- Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) protesters clashed with police in several locations last night in response to the arrest of a yeshiva student for dodging the draft. 48 protesters were arrested, and 3 police officers were injured.

The protests were organized by an extremist Haredi faction that opposes any form of integration of the ultra-Orthodox into Israeli society, and they are particularly opposed to Haredi youth serving in the IDF. Ultra-Orthodox communities have been largely exempt from the military draft since the 1950s, partly because they believe that Torah study is a higher value than military service but mostly because community leaders believe that the IDF “melting pot” would lead haredi young people to abandon that way of life.

The protests erupted shortly after the arrest as protestors blocked major thoroughfares in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Modi’in and Bet Shemesh and also disrupted traffic on two of the country’s major highways, Route 4 and Route 443, causing major traffic jams.

When the police tried to clear the roads the protesters turned violent, pelting them with whatever projectiles they could get their hands on.

A Police Spokesperson said the police respected freedom of speech and the right to protest, but would act decisively against violence, and would not allow protesters to block roads and disrupt normal life. “The protesters have a right to express their dissent, but this does not include rioting and blocking roads and highways”, he said.