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Anti-conscription protesters enter military training facility in Bnei Brak
Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv, Israel, entered a building housing a military training program to protest mandatory military service. Police said two protesters were detained during the incident.
Scraper SystemUpdated:
A building housing a military training program was entered during a protest by ultra-Orthodox Jews against mandatory military service in Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv, Israel.
Although some protesters reached the building, they were unable to access the soldiers inside. Clashes broke out between the protesters and police, who detained two demonstrators.
The entry attempt marked the third such effort in a week.
The building houses the Kodkod program
The building in Bnei Brak houses the Kodkod program, which trains ultra-Orthodox Jews for software development and cybersecurity roles in the military.
Political reaction to the protest
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, called the protesters who tried to enter the military base “terrorists.” Lieberman called for the protesters to be detained and sent to prison.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, of encouraging draft evasion at the expense of those serving in the military.
Bennett pledged to redirect to those serving in the military the 30 billion shekels in state funds allocated to draft evaders after the October 27 elections. The amount is equivalent to approximately $9.68 billion.
Debate over military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews
Ultra-Orthodox Jews have long opposed mandatory military service because they prioritize religious study over military duty. In Israel, whose population exceeds 10 million, the community accounts for approximately 14 percent of the population.
In June 2024, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jews must be drafted into the military.
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