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ultra-Orthodox draft

Sam Sokol
Inside Story
Sam Sokol
Enraged by arrests of draft evaders, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community is in revolt
Motti Babchik, a senior UTJ political operative, and thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest outside an IDF Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, June 17, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90)
Yeshiva students are blocking roads and breaking into police stations as Haredi parties hold coalition's legislative agenda hostage. PM said to be considering halting detentions
Motti Babchik, a senior UTJ political operative, and thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest outside an IDF Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, June 17, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90)
June 18, 2026, 10:20 pm
Enraged by arrests of draft evaders, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community is in revolt
Yeshiva students are blocking roads and breaking into police stations as Haredi parties hold coalition’s legislative agenda hostage. PM said to be considering halting detentions
By Sam Sokol
Police clash with Haredi protesters on Route 4, June 17, 2026 (Screen grabs/Channel 13)
June 17, 2026, 4:24 pm
Haredi anti-draft protest blocks highway near Tel Aviv, 8 hurt as police clear road
Police arrest 5; use stun grenades and batons in violent dispersal that sparks rare criticism from Ben Gvir, who has championed using force against anti-government demonstrators
By Charlie Summers, Sam Sokol and Emanuel Fabian
United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 17, 2026, 6:46 am
UTJ lawmaker Porush warns Haredim may go after AG ‘with sticks and stones’
Ultra-Orthodox MK warns his faction could soon ‘completely disassociate ourselves from cooperation with other government authorities that are taking part in the persecution against us’
By Sam Sokol
L-R, front: MKs Yitzhak Goldknopf (L), Moshe Gafni and Yinon Azulai in the Knesset, January 14, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 16, 2026, 7:00 pm
Haredi Knesset boycott continues, putting coalition’s legislative blitz at risk
Bills pulled from plenum agenda for second day in a row as Haredim demand return of daycare subsidies for draft evaders; we ‘will not accept any delay,’ says Degel HaTorah
By Sam Sokol
Haredi demonstrators push over a dumpster while rioting outside the home of Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg in the settlement of Alon Shvut, June 3, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 14, 2026, 6:44 pm
Four men indicted over Haredi riot at home of Supreme Court Justice Sohlberg
Some neighbors thought violent anti-conscription protest was a terror attack and hid in safe rooms, according to indictment, which says prosecutors don’t know who shuttled or led the aggressors
By Charlie Summers
Ultra-Orthodox men block a highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, on June 11, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 11, 2026, 9:30 pm
Thousands sit in traffic as Haredi protesters cut off central highways, block railroad
Protests, latest in escalating demonstrations, last about 2 hours; were called by extremist Jerusalem Faction in response to detention of 19 draft dodgers arrested at riot at justice’s house
By Charlie Summers
MK Moshe Gafni attends Finance committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, April 29, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 9, 2026, 10:37 pm
Finance Committee moves to restore daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers
New bill would only consider the employment status of a child’s mother, no longer examine the father’s eligibility for conscription; Finance, Justice ministries oppose legislation
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
Haredi men block a bus at the Tunnels Checkpoint, between south Jerusalem and the West Bank, on June 7, 2026, following the arrest of a suspected participant in an anti-enlistment riot outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg. (Screen capture: Moshe Zaide/ZiratNews via X)
June 7, 2026, 4:42 pm
Haredim block traffic at south Jerusalem checkpoint after arrest of suspected rioter
26-year-old, who allegedly resisted arrest, is one of 65 detained for attack on home of Supreme Court justice who has ordered effective penalties against draft dodgers
By Charlie Summers
Former defense minister Yoav Gallant arrives at the Likud court for a discussion on the proposal to remove him from the party, September 29, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH90)
June 7, 2026, 2:59 pm
Likud tribunal rejects petitions to expel ex-defense minister Yoav Gallant
Ruling party’s internal court finds no constitutional grounds for expelling veteran member, says judgment on his actions should be left to voters; Gallant: ‘Attempted political assassination’
By Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walks outside his office at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, June 3, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 7, 2026, 7:40 am
Netanyahu recalculates his election strategy amid shattered regional dreams
The prime minister hoped to head to the polls as the victor of the Middle East, but a rebuke from Trump and ultra-Orthodox crises have imposed a new political reality
By Shalom Yerushalmi
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, protesting against the jailing of yeshiva students who failed to comply with army recruitment orders, seen at the scene of a violent attack on the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg in the settlement of Alon Shvut, June 3, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 6, 2026, 10:38 pm
Haredi rioters sought to physically harm deputy Supreme Court chief, police said to find
Channel 12 says initial probe shows ultra-Orthodox attackers were highly organized, intended to hurt Noam Sohlberg; source says rioters ‘came to cause a pogrom’
By ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox men protest against the jailing of yeshiva students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, at the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg in the settlement of Alon Shvut, June 3, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 6, 2026, 2:01 pm
The violent ultra-Orthodox fight against the draft is an ostensible holy war against the state
The shocking attack on Justice Noam Sohlberg’s home underlines that extremists view the enlistment battle as a religious crusade, in which there can and will be no compromise
By Shalom Yerushalmi
Police inspect a damaged car at the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg in the West Bank settlement of Alon Shvut, after ultra-Orthodox Jews attacked the home in protest against the jailing of those who failed to comply with IDF draft orders, June 3, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 4, 2026, 2:48 pm
Supreme Court president: Haredi rampage at justice’s home was attack on rule of law
Amit vows court system and judges will not bow to violent intimidation; 62 suspects to face custody hearing, some said refusing to cooperate; GroPro cameras and drones seized
By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff
Smashed windows are seen at the home of Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg in the settlement of Alon Shvut following a riot by Haredi demonstrators, June 3, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); inset: Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg at a court hearing, February 2, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 4, 2026, 1:04 am
‘A pogrom’: Haredi rioters smash windows, damage home of deputy Supreme Court chief
Dozens nabbed after attempt to break into Noam Sohlberg’s house, with wife likening shattering of windows to Kristallnacht; Herzog decries ‘dangerous crossing of red line’
By Alexander Fulbright
Combo image shows Israel Police Chief Medical Officer, Chief Superintendent Dr. Valerie Shoshan, on right, and a group of ultra-Orthodox protesters trying to flip over her car in Jerusalem, June 2, 2026. (Screenshot/Avi Topurovich via X/Israel Police)
June 2, 2026, 4:15 pm
Ultra-Orthodox anti-draft mob attacks bereaved mother of IDF soldier in her car
Rioters try to overturn vehicle of Valerie Shoshan, who is the chief medical officer of the Israel Police; ‘I felt Elyassaf was with me,’ she says of son killed in Gaza fighting
By ToI Staff
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