Ultra-Orthodox Jews march against conscription in West Jerusalem

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested mandatory military service in West Jerusalem on Tuesday. The demonstrators supported people released from military prison for refusing to enlist, while some roads along the march route were closed to traffic.

Scraper SystemSeptember 30, 2026, 02:39 PM

Ultra-Orthodox Jews march against conscription in West Jerusalem

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews marched against mandatory military service in West Jerusalem. Some roads along the route were closed to traffic during the demonstration, which began in the Geula neighborhood.

The protest was held to support people recently released from military prison for refusing to enlist. Those released from prison were brought to the area by bus and were enthusiastically welcomed by the demonstrators.

Ultra-Orthodox protest against mandatory military service in Jerusalem, 2014 (archive)

The demonstrators carried banners calling for the release of detainees held in military prison. The banners read, "Release the detainees at Prison No. 10. They will never serve in the enemy army" and "We would rather die than enlist."

Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest outside a detention facility, 2024 (archive)

Court ruling intensifies debate

In June 2024, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men are subject to mandatory military service. The court also ordered the suspension of state funding for religious institutions attended by students who refuse to enlist.

Malkhei Yisrael Street in the Geula neighborhood of West Jerusalem (archive)

In Israel, whose population exceeds 10 million, ultra-Orthodox Jews make up approximately 14 percent of society. Most of the community opposes mandatory military service, arguing that full-time Torah study should take priority and that military service threatens its religious way of life.