Haredim protest at IDF induction centers against peers who enlist

Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators protested Wednesday outside army recruitment centers in Ramat Gan and Jerusalem, where new ultra-Orthodox IDF recruits were set for enlistment.

In footage of the protest near Ramat Gan’s Tel Hashomer, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, at least a hundred young men in ultra-Orthodox garb were seen gathered outside the center, some sitting cross-legged on the road as cars honked at them.

Over a dozen demonstrators attempted to break into the recruitment center in Tel Hashomer, the Israel Hayom outlet reported.

According to the daily, some 140 ultra-Orthodox young men were expected to be conscripted into combat support roles, sparking anger among extremist anti-draft groups. Many ultra-Orthodox Jews believe that military service is incompatible with their way of life, and fear that those who enlist will be secularized.

In Jerusalem, where protesters chanted against IDF enlistment, police officers at the scene declared the gathering unlawful and worked to disperse the demonstrators, police said in a statement.

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There were no arrests reported at either protest. The two recruitment centers have seen similar anti-draft protests in the past.

ההפגנה מחוץ ללשכת הגיוס תל השומר בגלל יום גיוס למסלולים החרדים בצה"ל pic.twitter.com/WvPVsmvoaI

— מרדכי הלפרין (@MHlpryn) July 15, 2026

חרדים קיצוניים מפגינים מול לשכת הגיוס בירושלים. (צילום: חנוך פוגל) pic.twitter.com/d3JMSoBtjX

— זירת החדשות (@ZiratNews) July 15, 2026

Anti-draft protests have been escalating against the backdrop of a fierce national debate over the blanket exemptions from military service long afforded to Haredi men. A High Court of Justice ruling declared in 2024 that Haredi men must enlist, and the debate over enlistment, has gained urgency amid the multi-front war Israel has fought since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack.

The demonstrations were held a day after the Knesset passed a controversial piece of legislation banning the arrest and prosecution of Haredi draft-dodgers, reinforcing the current reality of mass non-enlistment among the ultra-Orthodox population. After petitions were filed against the legislation, the High Court of Justice froze it on Wednesday.

The law is part of a last-minute legislative blitz by the government that is centered around Haredi demands to ensure draft exemptions are continued. National elections are scheduled for October 27.

Earlier this week, the Knesset passed another bill declaring Torah study a “foundational value” of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The law was framed to make it harder for the High Court of Justice to continue to rule that Haredi non-service is illegal and discriminatory, because it enshrines Torah study as an essential component of the state.

The Israel Defense Forces have warned repeatedly of an urgent manpower shortage amid the fighting. But Haredi leaders have continued to push for the exemptions to be enshrined in law, claiming that army service is a threat to their way of life and seeking to have the state view Torah study as service on par with military duty.

Some 72,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged 18 to 24 are currently believed to be eligible for military service, but have not enlisted. The IDF has said repeatedly in recent months that it urgently needs 12,000 new recruits amid the ongoing multifront conflict. The exemption laws have drawn fierce opposition from reservists, Knesset legal advisers, and much of the public.

Over the past two years, the military has sent out tens of thousands of enlistment orders to members of the ultra-Orthodox community following the High Court ruling. Most have ignored the orders, leading to large numbers of young men being classified as evaders and being subject to arrests or sanctions.

Those who do choose to enlist can join specially organized units that aim to cater for Haredi religious demands, but anti-draft activists say they are not satisfactory.