Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest mandatory military service in central Israel

JERUSALEM

Ultra-Orthodox Jews Tuesday evening blocked a major street in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, protesting the contentious issue of military conscription.

Dozens of Haredi protesters closed Jabotinsky Street, which connects Bnei Brak with the cities of Ramat Gan and Petah Tikva, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

The protesters sat on the street and disrupted traffic, chanting slogans rejecting military service, including "We would rather die than enlist" and "Conscription orders are destruction orders."

In a statement, Israeli police called the protest illegal and said officers were working to reroute traffic and forcibly disperse the demonstrators.

The statement added: "The Israel Police considers the right to protest a cornerstone of a democratic state, but it will not allow riots or harm to freedom of movement and public safety."

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the protesters belong to an extremist group led by Rabbi Tzvi Friedman, known for his hard-line positions within the Haredi community.

In June, Israel's Supreme Court mandated the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredi, into the army and banned financial aid to religious institutions whose students refused military service.

Haredi Jews make up about 13% of Israel's population of approximately 9.9 million and do not serve in the military, instead dedicating their lives to studying the Torah.

Israeli law requires all Israelis over 18 to serve in the military, and the exemption of Haredi has been a contentious issue for decades.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala