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Ultra-Orthodox Jews Clash with Police Over Draft Exemption in Israel
Jerusalem Paralyzed by Ultra-Orthodox Draft Protest
On June 1, thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews paralyzed the main western entrance to Jerusalem with a massive sit-in protesting the potential end of their military draft exemptions. The demonstrators blocked major transit intersections, leading to widespread disruption. Israeli Border Police responded with water cannons, using foul-smelling 'skunk water' to disperse the crowd. Clashes escalated into hand-to-hand combat, with protesters actively pursuing a police water cannon truck and shouting chants against mandatory conscription efforts. Several protesters were arrested during the aggressive sit-in, highlighting the intense opposition to legislative pressure to strip them of their long-standing exemption.
Beit Shemesh Sees Violent Unrest and Police Station Stormed
Chaos erupted in the city of Beit Shemesh on the night of May 31, as dozens of ultra-Orthodox rioters stormed a police station compound and set nearby vegetation ablaze. This violence was triggered by the arrest of an ultra-Orthodox draft evader earlier in the day. Dramatic footage showed large crowds of jeering protesters hurling debris at the police station, with some forcing open gates to push their way inside. Israeli police officers, backed by Border Police units, rushed to the scene and forcibly dispersed the protesters, deploying stun grenades as clashes intensified. An officer was seen punching several demonstrators as police struggled to prevent the crowd from overrunning the facility.
Deepening Social Fracture Amid Wartime Demands
While military service is strictly mandatory by Israeli law, the ultra-Orthodox community has successfully maintained widespread exemptions for decades. However, secular right-wing coalition partners and opposition parties are now demanding the ultra-Orthodox share the burden of national defense, especially after two years of high-intensity warfare in Gaza and Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the violence, calling it an "unbridled and violent attack" and demanding "firm action" against those involved. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed these sentiments, labeling those involved as "violent criminals" who must face the full force of the law. This deepening social fracture threatens to shatter the country's wartime government from the inside out.
*Source: YouTube: Times of India (2026-06-01)*
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