Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from Mea She’arim in West Jerusalem took to the streets to protest against conscription in the Israeli military. The protest comes after the High Court’s decision to end their exemptions, leading them to prefer imprisonment over military service. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, along with his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners, is facing backlash as the attorney general’s office has mandated that 3,000 Orthodox men be drafted immediately, causing them to lose eligibility for government grants. The ultra-Orthodox community has vowed to continue protesting, potentially destabilizing Netanyahu’s government. This issue of conscription has long divided Israeli society, with those serving in the military calling it unfair.
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Video “Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest having to serve in Israeli military” was uploaded on 06/30/2024 to Youtube Channel Al Jazeera English