Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest outside Israeli military enlistment office

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protested outside Israel’s military enlistment office in Jerusalem on Thursday, opposing calls to expand the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) by recruiting ultra-Orthodox men.

While military service is compulsory for most Jewish citizens, ultra-Orthodox men have historically been exempt, as they prioritise religious studies. The community, representing 13% of Israel’s population, maintains that studying in seminaries is their central obligation.