The unrest began during a routine parking enforcement operation, when Israeli police identified and attempted to arrest several young Haredi men suspected of evading military service, Al-Mayadeen reported citing Israeli regime's media. The move triggered violent clashes with bystanders that quickly escalated into riots. According to police and Israeli media reports, rioters hurled stones, overturned a vehicle, vandalized a police car and nearby property, and threw trash bins at officers.
Reinforcements from other police units were dispatched to the scene, but were also attacked. Occupation police said four individuals were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the violence, adding that crowd-control operations were ongoing and warning of legal consequences.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the clashes as "riots by draft dodgers," saying they exposed a broader failure of governance and the "disintegration of state institutions." Former Israeli security minister Avigdor Lieberman, also weighed in, saying that "draft evaders are attacking the police in Jerusalem because the government’s leadership is under Haredi control."
Haredi men have historically been exempt from military service under arrangements dating back to the creation of the Zionist entity in 1948. However, the exemption was never formally enshrined in law, and "Israel's" Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 that, in the absence of a legal framework, ultra-Orthodox men must be drafted like other settlers.
Despite the ruling, compliance has remained low. Israeli authorities issued tens of thousands of conscription orders to Haredi yeshiva students in 2025, yet only a small fraction initiated enlistment, with enforcement measures resulting in hundreds of arrests for draft evasion
Military Police operations targeting draft dodgers have repeatedly sparked mass protests, with violent confrontations between Haredi demonstrators and police becoming increasingly frequent. Additionally, Haredi leaders have framed military service as an existential threat to their religious way of life, openly encouraging resistance to enlistment
The ultra-Orthodox community now accounts for nearly 14 percent of "Israel's" population and is growing at a far faster rate than the general Jewish population.
At the same time, Israeli military officials have warned of a severe manpower shortage, describing it as the worst in the entity's history, as prolonged wars have strained both standing forces and reserve units. The occupation army reportedly needs 10,000–12,000 additional full-time soldiers, including thousands of combat troops, as prolonged wars strain both standing forces and reserves.
IOF reservists have borne much of the burden, with many serving extended and repeated deployments, leading to burnout and growing resistance to continued service. The IOF has also reported a rise in early retirement requests among experienced officers, leaving gaps in leadership ranks.
MNA
Your Comment