Ultra Orthodox Protesters Break Through Israeli Military Base

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION / Acyurt ring

JAKARTA - Dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters broke into an Israeli military base near Tel Aviv. This demonstration opposes mandatory military orders for Jews.

The demonstration stressed the widening division in Israeli society 10 months after the start of the war in Gaza.

The military condemned the incident at the Tel Hashomer base, which occurred after protesters managed to break in before being handled by the police.

Breaking into military bases is a serious violation and a violation of the law. The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) condemned this violent behavior and insisted that protesters be tried," the military said in a statement.

Video footage shared by Israeli police showed dozens of men in traditional black coats and hats worn by the ultra-Orthodox community facing police ranks outside the base.

Israel's Supreme Court ordered the government in June to end its longstanding exceptions and include ultra-Orthodox student Haredi into the military.

This ruling received strong rejection from the community and religious parties in the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The first summons was sent about two weeks ago and the military service will report to the recruitment center.

An exclusion draft for ultra-Orthodox Jews has existed since the early days of the founding of the Israeli state, when the first prime minister, Socialist David Ben-Gurion released about 400 students from military service so they could devote themselves to religious studies.

With this, Ben-Gurion hopes to continue to liven up the sacred knowledge and traditions that are almost destroyed by the Nazi Holocaust.

At the time, the Haredis were just minorities but those exceptions had become an increasingly large problem as the community had grown to cover more than 13 percent of Israel's population.

The issue has not been resolved for decades, but the war in Gaza, and the possibility of a broader war with Iran and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon, has made this issue the main focus.

"Registration of ultra-Orthodox residents is an operational necessity and is carried out in accordance with the law. The IDF is determined to continue to advance it," the military said.