Amid stormy protests, only 70 ultra-Orthodox reported for recruitment since court ruling, says IDF

Five arrested after violent protest, clashes with police in Jerusalem

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Only about 70 ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men out of several thousand have reported to IDF recruitment centers following the dramatic Israeli High Court ruling that canceled military draft exemptions for those who studying in religious schools, the IDF said Wednesday.

Amid stormy protests designed to keep potential Haredi draftees from reaching the recruitment center in Jerusalem, a paltry seven ultra-Orthodox men were registered and underwent the mandatory screening process on Wednesday.

“For those who were summoned and did not show up, summons began to go out a second time, in order to complete the recruitment process,” the IDF announced.

“If necessary, the call-up process will continue in accordance with the law until the issuance of a recruitment order. The IDF will continue to act in accordance with the decision of the political echelon and subject to the law.”

Several hundred protesters showed up in Jerusalem on Thursday morning and began chanting slogans against the army, the state and the police officers at the scene, which they dubbed “Nazis,” “Hezbollah,” and “Nukhbas,” a reference to Hamas’ elite force that spearheaded the Oct. 7 massacre.

When protesters began blocking the light rail, tearing down police barriers and throwing objects, police forcibly detained some of them, using batons and riot control measures, including water cannons and skunk spray.

Video footage appeared to show several instances of police brutality, with authorities later announcing that the events of the day would be investigated. The police reported five people were arrested.

In addition, the police will investigate a physical altercation between a passing motorist and a protester

The IDF said that the process of inducting new soldiers into the military was adjusted specifically to fit the needs of Haredi draftees. This includes adapted tests and interviews that would mainly be carried out by male soldiers and officers.

On June 25, Israel’s High Court ruled unanimously that the State of Israel can no longer legally exempt ultra-Orthodox men studying in religious schools from being drafted for army service.

All nine justices agreed that no legal framework exists to continue the exemption that differentiates between young ultra-Orthodox men and every other 18-year-old Israeli who is obligated to serve.

About one month later, the IDF said it distributed recruitment orders via SMS messaging to approximately 1,000 young ultra-Orthodox men, instructing them to appear for recruitment and screening.

The first draft orders were sent to men between the ages of 18 and 26, with another 2,000 orders expected to be delivered over the following four weeks.

According to the IDF, all 3,000 men selected for recruitment were chosen based on indications that they were not engaged in full-time studies at a yeshiva, a religious studies school.

Over the past week, violent demonstrations to prevent the draftees from reaching recruitment centers and other protests against army service took place at several locations across the country.

The commander of the IDF's Personnel Directorate’s Planning and Personnel Management Division admitted that the protests were working and were the main contributor to the low number of draftees showing up to enlist, according to the Times of Israel.