Haredim protest at IDF induction centers against peers who enlist

Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators protested on Wednesday outside army recruitment centers in Ramat Gan and Jerusalem against the enlistment of Haredi peers into the IDF. In Ramat Gan, over a hundred young men gathered, with some attempting to breach the Tel Hashomer center, where approximately 140 Haredi recruits were expected to be conscripted into combat support roles. In Jerusalem, police declared the protest unlawful and dispersed demonstrators. These protests occur amidst an escalating national debate over Haredi military service exemptions, especially after a 2024 High Court ruling mandated enlistment and the ongoing multi-front war. The demonstrations followed the Knesset's passage of controversial legislation banning the arrest of Haredi draft-dodgers, which the High Court subsequently froze. The IDF has repeatedly warned of an urgent manpower shortage, needing 12,000 new recruits, while Haredi leaders continue to push for exemptions, viewing military service as a threat to their way of life.