Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis took to the streets in the occupied territories Thursday to protest Israel’s new mandatory military service law, bringing West Jerusalem to a near standstill.

Local media reported that roughly 200,000 protesters, mostly men dressed in traditional black suits and hats, carried placards denouncing conscription. The demonstrators blocked major roads and set pieces of tarpaulin on fire as they voiced their opposition to being drafted.

The mass protest, largely peaceful, was marked by a tragic accident in which a teenager fell from a nearby construction site and died. Authorities deployed at least 2,000 police officers to monitor the demonstrations and maintain order.

Banners displayed by the protesters carried slogans such as “The people are with the Torah” and “Closing the yeshiva — a death sentence for Judaism”, emphasizing the community’s rejection of the government’s plan to subject ultra-Orthodox men to compulsory military service.

The protest comes amid heightened tensions over Israel’s conscription policies. Historically, ultra-Orthodox men devoting themselves full-time to the study of sacred Jewish texts have been exempted from military service — a rule dating back to the country’s founding in 1948. Today, ultra-Orthodox Jews make up about 14 percent of Israel’s Jewish population, with around 66,000 men currently benefiting from the exemption.

In recent months, thousands of call-up notices have been issued, and several deserters have been imprisoned, sparking outrage within the community. Protesters, including Shmuel Orbach, stated, “People who refuse to go to the army are taken to military prison. But this is a Jewish country — you cannot fight against Judaism in a Jewish country.”

The debate over ultra-Orthodox conscription has also strained Israel’s political landscape. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that mandatory service applies to ultra-Orthodox men like any other citizen unless a new law distinguishes yeshiva students. The ruling contributed to instability in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, with the United Torah Judaism party leaving the government, weakening his parliamentary majority.

Parliament is currently struggling to draft a new conscription bill that satisfies both the ultra-Orthodox community and the military, as Israel continues to grapple with security challenges and a stretched armed forces. Elections are scheduled by late October 2026, with political tensions already rising over the conscription issue. (ILKHA)