In a monumental protest against the proposed changes to military conscription laws, hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis gathered in Jerusalem, marking one of the largest demonstrations of its kind in years. Dubbed the 'march of the million,' nearly all sects and factions within the Haredi community participated, voicing their opposition to recent legal alterations that would affect their long-standing exemptions from military service.
Historically, students enrolled full-time at religious institutions known as yeshivas have been exempt from the draft, although some members of the ultra-Orthodox community do serve in the military. Recent events, particularly the ongoing war in Gaza, have intensified demands for more ultra-Orthodox individuals to assume military roles, leading to a significant escalation in protests.
Before the gathering, numerous roads around Jerusalem were closed, highlighting the scale and importance of the event. This protest emphasized the diversity within the ultra-Orthodox community, which comprises approximately 14% of Israel’s population. Uniting them was not only the concern over enforced military service but also the anger resulting from the arrests of ultra-Orthodox men who sought to avoid the draft. The community expresses fears that their traditional way of life is facing erosion.
Conversely, many in Israel argue that the ultra-Orthodox population has not shared the burdens of military service equitably and that their enlistment could alleviate ongoing manpower shortages. However, integration into the military presents its own set of challenges, particularly considering the strict adherence to religious practices among the Haredi people.
