Ultra-Orthodox draft

'We do whatever they say': Yeshiva students defer to rabbis over response to IDF draft enforcement

When a group of young men was asked whether some yeshiva students wanted to enlist but refrained because their rabbis forbade it, several agreed, with one answering, “of course.”

Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews attend an election rally organized by the United Torah Judaism party in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, central Israel, two days ahead of Israel’s general elections, October 25, 2026.
Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public party, party members and supporters attend the launch of the party’s election campaign ahead of the upcoming Israeli general elections in Beit Shemesh, August 23, 2026.

'We will get them': Haredi Public Party leader vows to help fill IDF manpower shortage

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men at the Tel Hashomer IDF base, August 30, 2026.

Israel's attorney-general urges High Court to cut benefits for 110,000 draft evaders

Members of the Chabad community at Ben-Gurion Airport, October 20, 2026.

IDF detains 42 Chabad Hassidic draft evaders arriving from New York at Ben-Gurion Airport


Counterprotest begins in Bnei Brak after mass traffic disruption from ultra-orthodox draft protest

Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., hundreds of protesters are expected to arrive in Bnei Brak as part of a demonstration against inequality in the burden of service.

RESIDENTS OF Kfar Yona protest against an ultra-Orthodox demonstration opposing the arrest of Haredi draft evaders near the Beit Lid military prison in central Israel, June 24, 2026.

Marathon Knesset meetings set to rapidly advance haredi parties’ contentious Torah study bill

The bill seeks to enshrine Torah study in the country’s Basic Law as part of a proposal that critics argue encourages draft evasion and changes the status of yeshiva students who do not serve.

MKS ATTEND a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on June 16, 2026.

Police officer seen assaulting haredim at draft protest released after questioning

The officer was released without restrictions. The investigation was initiated last week, as several videos were circulated around social media showing the assaults.

Haredi protests begin across Israel, June 24, 2026.

Following hours of haredi draft protests, Israeli highways reopen to traffic

Protests cause heavy traffic on 29 major roads • Social media footage shows protesters and secular citizens in violent physical altercations • MKs Goldknopf, Malkieli attended protests

A haredi man looks on as traffic builds at Hemed Interchange on Highway 1 amid ultra-Orthadox anti-draft protests, June 24, 2026.

'Release Sohlberg's hostages': Soldiers, haredi protesters clash outside of Military Prison 10

Sohlberg has become a focal point of such protests following his order to increase arrests of draft evaders, the peak of which took place on June 3, when a haredi riot broke out outside of his home.

Motti Babchik and thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest outside Military Prison 10 near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, June 17, 2026.

Shas spiritual leader: Iran deal is punishment for draft dodger arrests, A-G is 'wicked woman'

"Trump turned against us because of the decrees being imposed on Torah scholars and because they are being arrested,” Yosef said.

Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, during a weekly teaching at the Yazdim synagogue in Jerusalem, on June 7, 2025.

Ultra-Orthodox protesters block traffic, set fire on road near Jerusalem's Shabbat Square

On Thursday evening, light rail service was partially suspended between Jerusalem’s central bus station and Mount Herzl station due to haredi protests.

Israel Police responding to haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protest near Shabbat Square in Jerusaelm, June 19, 2026.

Pareto vs the IDF: Does sociology determine army service? - opinion

We must remember that in any society, different groups will contribute in different ways. To aim for a forced “equality of service” is insensible.

IDF SOLDIERS operating in the Gaza Strip.

Haredi leadership must help Israel move from division to shared purpose - opinion

It is inconceivable to most of us living here that in the minds of some in the religious leadership in this country there is a belief that studying Torah is fully equivalent to serving in the army.

 Protests against haredi draft in Jerusalem, October 30, 2025.

WATCH: Some 10,000 protesters block two highways in protest of IDF haredi draft

Drivers of vehicles blocked by the protest exited their vehicles and confronted protesters, video footage from the scene seen by The Jerusalem Post appeared to show.

Haredi protestors stand under a bridge, blocking a road near Bnei Brak on Wednesday, 17 June.