Teen Perishes in Church Protest
A massive rally by ultra-Orthodox Jews against military conscription turned tragic in Jerusalem on Thursday, when a teenage boy fell to his death during the demonstration that had blocked the main entrance to the city.
The streets around Route 1, leading into Jerusalem, were packed with crowds, mostly men, as they gathered for the rally. Israeli media estimated that about 200,000 people attended the event.
Photos captured some individuals climbing onto the roofs of buildings, a gas station, and even cranes. The Israeli ambulance service reported that a 15-year-old tragically fell to his death, prompting police to launch an investigation into the incident.
Military exemptions are a contentious issue in Israel
The ongoing debate surrounding mandatory military service and the exemptions granted to certain groups has long fueled tensions in Israel’s deeply divided society, putting increasing pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the past year.
Ultra-Orthodox seminary students have traditionally been exempt from compulsory military service, leading many Israelis to express their frustration over what they perceive as an unfair burden placed on the mainstream population who do serve.
This discontent has only grown during recent conflicts that have resulted in the highest Israeli military death toll in decades, with fighting extending from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.
This situation has intensified the already heated discussion around a new conscription bill, which is at the heart of a crisis shaking Netanyahu’s coalition, formed in late 2022 for a four-year term.
Leaders within the ultra-Orthodox community argue that their full-time commitment to studying sacred texts is vital, fearing that drafting their young men into the military could lead them away from their religious lives.
“Right now, those who refuse to serve in the army end up in military prison,” said Shmuel Orbach, a protester. “It’s not the worst thing. But we are a Jewish country. You can’t oppose Judaism in a Jewish country; it just doesn’t work.”
However, last year, the Supreme Court ruled to end the exemption. Parliament has been struggling to create a new conscription bill that satisfies both the ultra-Orthodox community and the demands of an overstretched military.
In July, two long-time political allies, the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), withdrew from Netanyahu’s coalition government due to disagreements over the new military draft legislation.
Netanyahu is now left with a coalition that’s becoming more and more fractured, especially with the far-right members expressing their dissatisfaction over the ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza, which was facilitated by the United States.
Interestingly, there’s still a chance for the ultra-Orthodox parties to come back into the fold if they can sort out their differences.
However, finding a compromise that satisfies the ultra-Orthodox leaders could end up alienating a lot of other Israelis, especially with elections on the horizon. Plus, there’s the looming possibility that the Supreme Court might not approve any such agreement.
Polls from the last couple of years have consistently shown that Netanyahu’s coalition is likely to face defeat in the upcoming elections.
Teen Perishes in Church Protest
