Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting against mandatory military service for their community stormed a military base near Tel Aviv on Tuesday, the army said in a statement.
“Over the past few hours, dozens of protesters attempted to enter the Tel Hashomer base during protests that took place outside the base,” a military statement said.
It said protesters “managed to infiltrate the Adjutant Corps Memorial near the base fence” before being dispersed by police.
Tel Hashomer, located east of Tel Aviv, is Israel’s largest base for newly recruited military personnel.
The Israeli military said it “condemns this violent behaviour and insists that protesters be brought to justice”.
The statement said that “the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox citizens is an operational necessity and is being conducted in accordance with the law” and that the army is “determined” to pursue it.
Ultra-Orthodox seminary students historically exempt from mandatory military service are being recalled, while Israel’s war in Gaza and potential conflict with Hezbollah on its northern border are draining resources and fueling resentment among those who are not required to serve.
The appointment follows a ruling by Israel’s top court in June that exemptions from mandatory service for ultra-Orthodox men were discriminatory and that the state must conscript them.
Under the long-standing arrangement, ultra-Orthodox Jews, who make up about 13 percent of Israel’s 10 million population, were not subject to the draft.
Members of this largely isolated community, where young men of recruitment age usually study in Jewish seminaries, have taken to the streets to protest conscription, leading to clashes with police in Jerusalem.
Ultra-Orthodox men clashed with police outside Tal Hashomer on Monday before being dispersed or physically escorted away.
In July, Dov Landow, a prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbi, urged yeshiva students to ignore the subpoenas, writing in the Yated Ne’eman daily that it was a “war” against religious Jews.
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