Ultra-orthodox Israelis storm army base amid anger at military draft

The issue of whether or not the community should serve is one of Israel's longest-standing political dilemmas

Ultra-orthodox Israelis often protest against any effort to force them to serve in the military. AFP

Dozens of ultraorthodox Israelis broke into a military base on Tuesday, the latest in a series of clashes between authorities and the community which is furious at a court order demanding that its men be enlisted into the military.

Footage from the scene showed young ultraorthodox men scaling the fence of the Tel Hashomer base in central Israel and pulling open a gate while police charged on horseback.

The army slammed the latest unrest, saying that “breaking into a military base is a serious offence and is against the law”.

“The enlistment of ultraorthodox citizens is an operational necessity and is being conducted in accordance with the law, and the [military] is determined to continue advancing it,” it added.

The break-in on Tuesday came the day after community members gathered at the same base to protest the first round of enlistment after thousands of conscription orders were sent out last week, with thousands more set to be issued next week.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed the protesters, saying Israel’s far-right government has empowered rioters in recent weeks.

“In just over a week, extremist rioters infiltrated [military] bases three times with the backing of ministers and [members of parliament],” Mr Lapid said, also referencing the overrunning of military facilities by far-right activists and politicians last week after military police detained Israeli soldiers accused of abusing Palestinian detainees.

“Israel has never had such a promiscuous and disturbed government that harms the functioning of the army and endangers national security,” he added.

Authorities have been anticipating mass protests ever since Israel’s High Court ruled in June that the state could no longer avoid drafting ultraorthodox students.

The attorney general then ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which includes ultraorthodox parties bitterly opposed to military service, to start conscripting eligible men.

Israel’s ultraorthodox were long exempt from serving in the army due to rules put in place at the foundation of Israel when the community only numbered a few hundred people.

Due to a very high birth rate, numbers have grown massively and many Israelis say the state can no longer afford to continue with the same exemptions, particularly as the Israeli economy buckles under the strain of the Gaza war, which is also fuelling a shortage in military personnel.

Dr Shuki Friedman, vice president of think tank JPPI, told The National that while “there was a very minor change in ultraorthodox attitudes towards army service after October 7, the majority still don’t see service as a duty for their community”.

The ultraorthodox oppose joining due to fears it would secularise their young men. Others are also opposed to the state of Israel itself on religious grounds.

Mr Friedman did not believe the government would be able to find a solution to the crisis.

“The only compromise that would be accepted by the ultraorthodox would be very narrow and not see a serious effort to recruit them,” he said.

“Then there are coalition politicians in other parties who object to a compromise on principle and want to see all eligible ultraorthodox go to the army.”