Haredi Protests Erupt After Yeshiva Draft Arrests

The arrest of two yeshiva student brothers for draft evasion has ignited a major confrontation between Israel's Haredi community and the government. Following these arrests, prominent rabbinical leaders, including Rabbi Dov Lando, rallied the entire Haredi community and convened an emergency meeting, pledging a global protest movement. Large demonstrations have erupted in Jerusalem in response. The crisis intensified after a High Court ruling ended decades-long military service exemptions for Haredi men, resulting in tens of thousands of new draft notices being issued. Ultra-Orthodox parties reacted by withdrawing their ministers from the government, while opposition figures such as Avigdor Liberman criticized Haredi leaders for opposing conscription amid national security concerns. The conflict highlights deep divisions in Israeli society over military service and religious privilege.