Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews held massive protests in Tel-Aviv against the Israeli Defence Forces' renewed conscription of Haredi Israelis'.
Haredi Jews blocked roads in Tel-Aviv for hours after several yeshiva students were arrested for evading the military draft.
The protests erupted following a call from a revered Haredi rabbi, urging followers to oppose the IDF’s push to enlist members of the ultra-Orthodox community.
To disperse the protesters, police deployed water cannons and used force. More than five Haredi protesters were arrested for hurling stones at officers. Despite the crackdown, the protesters remained defiant, declaring they would rather die than enlist in the army.
The controversial Haredi military draft bill has long been a point of contention in Israeli society.
Shimon, Haredi protester, resident of Beit Shemesh, said "They want to uproot the yeshivas, to send the young men to the army that is under their rule, under their command, in order to spoil us, that is their reason. They do not need us in the army, it is known, they do not need us. They do not want us in the army. They want us in the army only so that we become secular, to break the continuity of the people of Israel. There will be a war over this matter, and we are even ready for them, to shed our blood, to the last drop of blood we will fight this."
Netanyahu's coalition partners, the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties were demanding Knesset legislation that would permanently exempt the Haredi community from compulsory military service and other forms of national duty.
However, as Netanyahu's government failed to pass such legislation, the Sephardic Shas party, the Ashkenazi faction, and United Torah Judaism all quit the coalition last month.
The latest wave of protests against the IDF’s draft initiative has received significant backing from senior rabbis representing major Haredi factions. The push to exempt Haredi Jews from military conscription comes at a time when the IDF is facing a severe manpower shortage.
There are currently over 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men eligible for military service who have yet to enlist.
A report published in July revealed that the IDF is short of over 7,500 soldiers and 300 platoon commanders across its ground combat units.
Gaza Occupation
Making matters worse, the Israeli cabinet approved Prime Minister Netanyahu’s controversial plan ordering the IDF to take control of the Gaza Strip. Massive protests erupted across Israel following the announcement.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the proposal aimed to “defeat Hamas” and promised that humanitarian aid would be provided to Palestinians outside combat zones.
However, reports indicate that Netanyahu plans to occupy the Gaza Strip permanently and allow the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements. The Prime Minister stated that a detailed plan for Gaza's future would be developed only after Hamas is fully defeated.
Netanyahu also declared that neither the Israeli civil government nor the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, would be permitted to rule the Strip.
The approved plan is expected to forcibly displace more than 800,000 Palestinians, effectively suffocating an already devastated area home to over 2 million people.
The decision was made despite opposition from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who warned that occupying Gaza would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe and further endanger the lives of hostages still held in the Strip.
Zamir also cautioned that prolonging military operations in Gaza would lead to increased casualties among IDF troops.
Following his outspoken opposition, reports emerged that Zamir may be asked to step down if he refuses to align with Netanyahu’s vision for Gaza.
The 22-month-long military offensive in Gaza has already killed tens of thousands, displaced the majority of the population, destroyed vast areas of infrastructure, and caused widespread hunger. With Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy the Strip now officially adopted, Palestinians brace for even deeper misery.
