Thousands protest in Israel over ultra-Orthodox military conscription
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered outside Prison 10 at the Beit Lid military base near Netanya on 17 June to protest against mandatory military enlistment. The demonstrators also called for the release of men detained for refusing to serve. Security forces were deployed near the prison, including a water cannon vehicle, as crowds gathered at the entrance to the detention facility.
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The protest took place against the backdrop of a long-running dispute over exemptions for full-time religious students. According to a parliamentary committee, around 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach conscription age each year, but fewer than 10% enlist. The issue has become more politically sensitive as Israel faces military demands across several fronts, including operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and tensions with Iran.
The conscription question has repeatedly tested relations between the state, the armed forces and ultra-Orthodox parties. The Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the exemptions were unlawful, but successive governments have kept them in place. That has left the issue unresolved and politically difficult, particularly for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.
The latest demonstration adds pressure at a time when the government is balancing military needs with domestic political constraints. The row is not only about enlistment numbers but also about the place of religious study in public life and the limits of state exemptions. It also reflects the wider strain created by Israel's current security environment, which has increased the demand for personnel.
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Ultra-Orthodox parties withdrew their support for Netanyahu's coalition in recent weeks, underlining how the dispute has moved from a policy argument to a direct political challenge. The protest outside Prison 10 also highlighted the issue of men detained for refusing service, which has become a focal point for opponents of compulsory enlistment. The presence of security forces suggests authorities were preparing for a large and potentially tense gathering.
What remains unclear is whether the protest will lead to any immediate change in policy or in the status of those detained. It is also not yet clear how the government will respond to the pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties and from the wider public debate over military service. The next developments to watch are any court, parliamentary or coalition moves on the conscription dispute.
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