Largest Haredi Protest Erupts in Occupied Al-Quds Against Israeli Military Draft
Hundreds of thousands rally as occupation police shut down major roads; Haredi parties vow to block draft law
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Hundreds of thousands of Haredi Jews demonstrated on Thursday at the entrance of occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem) to protest mandatory enlistment in the Israeli army, as occupation police closed the city’s main roads and access points.
Israeli media reported that the demonstration, dubbed the “Million-Man Stand,” was organized in response to the arrest of Torah seminary students who refuse military service.
Channel 14 estimated that approximately 200,000 Haredim arrived in Jerusalem to oppose the compulsory draft law currently pursued by the occupation government.
Protesters poured in from across the country, leading to crippling traffic congestion and the closure of central roads leading into, inside, and around the city.
Demonstrators: “The People Are With the Torah”
Demonstrators carried banners reading “The people are with the Torah” and “Shutting down Torah institutes means eliminating Judaism.”
Organizers tried to contain internal disputes after individual banners attacking the army and government appeared, stressing that only the officially approved slogans represented the spirit of the rally.
In a statement, the organizing committee emphasized that “the official banners of the demonstration were published in advance and alone reflect the spirit of the gathering,” adding that any other slogans “are personal initiatives with no connection to the committee.”
Road Closures and Transport Shutdown
Closures included Highway 1 between Latrun Junction and Givat Shaul, with traffic diverted to Highway 16. Streets including Jaffa, Herzl, Shazar, and Givat Shaul were also blocked in the direction of the city center.
Israel Railways announced that Jerusalem’s central station (Yitzhak Navon) would stop receiving passengers at 2:00 p.m. to avoid overcrowding.
The decision angered rally organizers, who threatened to broaden protests nationwide, including on the Ayalon Highway and Route 6.
One organizer said:
“Authorities are forcing chaos on us after we worked to organize a disciplined demonstration.”
Haredi Parties Reaffirms They Will Continue
Haredi parties in the Knesset reaffirmed they will continue to pressure to defeat the draft law, stressing that
“protecting the Torah-centered character of our community is a red line.”
The protests follow the Israeli Supreme Court’s June 25, 2024 ruling mandating Haredi conscription and halting financial support for religious institutions whose students refuse to serve.
Haredim and Military Service
Haredim constitute roughly 13% of the Israeli population — about one million settlers — and reject military service, claiming dedication to Torah study and arguing that integration into secular society threatens their religious identity and community continuity.
For decades, Haredi youth avoided enlistment at age 18 through repeated deferments for religious study, until reaching today’s exemption age of 26.
Political Clash Deepens
Opposition parties accuse Benjamin Netanyahu of pushing a law exempting Haredim from service to satisfy the demands of Shas and United Torah Judaism, which withdrew from the government earlier this year and plan to return once the exemption bill passes.
Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee head Boaz Bismuth intends to present a new version of the draft-exemption bill next week.
Details of the New Exemption Proposal
The revised draft proposal includes:
Removing quotas for Haredim joining combat units
Allowing alternative “security-civilian service,” including religious rescue organizations like ZAKA
Redefining “Haredi” eligibility as two years of yeshiva study (down from three), expanding exemption eligibility
Restricting driver’s license issuance only for new draft-evaders (not retroactive)
Dropping the fingerprint attendance-tracking requirement at Torah institutes, replacing with flexible digital systems
Banning foreign travel until age 26, with departure permitted the day after turning 26
A Divisive Bill
The proposal has intensified political divisions.
Haredi parties insist the law must be passed during the current Knesset session as a condition for their continued participation in the government.
Meanwhile, opposition parties warn that the law will
“institutionalize mass draft evasion and deepen the divide between Haredim and the rest of Israeli society.” (PW)
Source: Palinfo