Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered in Jerusalem on Thursday to protest mandatory military service, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition.
The debate over mandatory military service, and those who are exempt from it, has long caused tensions within Israel's deeply divided society.
Packed crowds, mostly men clad in traditional black ultra-Orthodox suits and hats, clogged the roads at the main entrance to Jerusalem, paralyzing traffic. Israeli media estimated that around 200,000 people flocked to the demonstration.
"Right now, people who refuse to go to the army are taken to military prison," said Shmuel Orbach, a protester, "It's not so bad. But we are a Jewish country. You cannot fight against Judaism in a Jewish country; it does not work."
A drone view shows Ultra-Orthodox Jews rallying during a "million man" protest against Israeli military conscription, in Jerusalem Oct. 30, 2025. (Reuters Photo)
