10 Israeli policemen injured in violent clashes with ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout and Lina Altawell

JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL (AA) – Ten Israeli police officers were injured Thursday in violent clashes with hundreds of ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) Jewish protesters in west Jerusalem, police said.

A police statement said the unrest occurred on Hanna Street after municipal authorities issued a fine in the area, with protesters hurling stones and objects at security forces during the violence.

Four suspects were arrested, while ten officers were injured, and some were hospitalized for medical treatment, police said, adding that the situation was brought under control after the violent riots.

Police said an investigation has been launched into the violence.

According to the public broadcaster KAN, the protests erupted after a fine was issued for a person refusing military service.

Tension has been high in Israel since a 2024 Supreme Court ruling requiring ultra-Orthodox men to serve in the military and halting state funding for religious institutions whose students refuse to serve in the military.

Haredim, who make up about 13% of Israel’s population of 10 million, claim military service threatens their religious identity and community structure, as they dedicate their lives to Torah study. Prominent rabbis have urged followers to reject the draft and “tear up enlistment orders.”

For decades, most ultra-Orthodox men avoided service through repeated deferments for religious study until reaching the exemption age, currently set at 26.

Opposition lawmakers accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pushing legislation to permanently exempt the Haredim to satisfy demands by the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, both of which left the coalition earlier this year but are expected to rejoin once such a law passes.