Israel
Ultra-Orthodox Jews block highway in enlistment protest
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have blocked a major highway in Jerusalem to protest against enlisting for military service.
“We are forced to go to the army that it is brainwashing, and we can’t keep our religion,” said Dovi, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish protester.
Under longstanding arrangements, ultra-Orthodox men have been exempted from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jewish men and women, who serve two to three years as well, as reserve duty until around age 40.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government suffered a serious blow last week when ultra-Orthodox parties announced they were bolting the coalition
The parties leaders said they were leaving the government because of disagreements over a proposed law that would end broad exemptions for religious students from enlistment into the military.
Roughly 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews make up about 13 per cent of Israel’s population and oppose enlistment because they believe studying full time in religious seminaries is their most important duty.
