BICOM

Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators protested across Israel yesterday after one ultra-orthodox man was arrested for refusing to report to the IDF draft office.

YNet reports that as many as 67 arrests were made after ultra-Orthodox protestors blocked major thoroughfares in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh and a junction outside Modi’in. Police asked drivers to avoid Jabotinsky and Rabbi Akiva streets in Bnei Brak, both major routes east of Tel Aviv.

Three police officers were lightly wounded by stone-throwing during the protests. The Police issued a statement saying: “Protest is a democratic right and the Israel Police will allow it, but disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace is a criminal offence.”

It is believed that the protests were coordinated by Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach’s conservative “Jerusalem faction” of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community. In a statement, the faction said it would “stand like a bulwark and without compromise and absolutely refuse to cooperate with… plans to assimilate the ultra-Orthodox public into Israeli society”.

The protests were triggered by the arrest of a 24-year-old ultra-Orthodox man at a similar demonstration on Tuesday after it was discovered that he had refused to report to the IDF recruitment office, as required by law.

Ultra-Orthodox seminary students have traditionally been granted widespread exemptions from military service, despite the vehement opposition of many other Israelis. In 2014, legislation was approved to drastically increase ultra-Orthodox enlistment. But when two ultra-Orthodox political parties – United Torah Judaism and Shas – entered Government in 2015 the law was effectively nullified. There are however reports of an increase in voluntary enlistment in the ultra-Orthodox community but the issue a continued flashpoint.