Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis are taking part in a protest in Jerusalem against changes to a legal exemption for religious students from conscription in the military.
Almost all sects and factions of the ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, community are participating in what has been dubbed the march of the million.
Since the founding of Israel, students enrolled full-time in religious schools, or yeshivas, have been exempt from conscription; however, some members of the community do serve in the military. Demands have intensified for them to play a more significant role during the ongoing war in Gaza.
Roads in and around Jerusalem were closed before the protest, marking one of the largest anti-conscription demonstrations by ultra-Orthodox Israelis in years. This gathering unites various elements of the Haredi community, which represents about 14% of the Israeli population.
Major concerns stem from the government’s push to enforce conscription for more ultra-Orthodox individuals, sparking anger over recent arrests related to draft evasion. The Haredi community believes their traditional lifestyle is under threat, while many Israelis feel that they must share the defense burden amid the ongoing conflict.
Despite aspirations for an increase in military manpower by integrating ultra-Orthodox recruits, military leaders express concerns regarding the challenges of accommodating their strict religious observance and culture.
