Israeli town blocks Haredi protesters amid conscription tensions
Key Takeaways
- Kfar Yona residents and officials tried to prevent Haredi protesters from entering the town.
- Demonstrators oppose military conscription and the arrest of ultra-Orthodox men accused of draft evasion.
- Israel's Supreme Court ruling on drafting Haredi yeshiva students continues to fuel nationwide tensions.
Residents and local officials in Kfar Yona moved to stop ultra-Orthodox demonstrators from entering the town as opposition to military conscription intensified
Residents and local officials in the Israeli town of Kfar Yona moved to prevent ultra-Orthodox demonstrators from entering on Thursday, as tensions over military conscription continued to fuel protests across the country.
Police were deployed at several locations as officers tried to keep protesters and residents apart during a series of tense exchanges.
Local resident Johnny Velligora said the community had gathered to prevent a repeat of previous disturbances.
"These ultra-Orthodox protests inside our neighbourhood are causing major disruption […] During the previous protest, demonstrators entered our homes, urinated inside them and left a huge mess," he claimed.
Velligora said residents supported the right to protest but opposed the way previous demonstrations had unfolded.
"If you want to protest, you have every right to do so. But at least do it in a legitimate and orderly way, instead of rioting, overturning trash bins, and getting into fights," he added.
Kfar Yona Mayor Albert Taieb said the municipality was coordinating with police to stop vehicles carrying demonstrators from entering the town.
"We expect to stop the thousands of [Haredi] vehicles arriving from across the country […] We will not allow that to happen under any circumstances," he noted.
"We are waiting. They are still gathering and have not yet arrived. I sincerely hope the police will keep their promise and prevent them from entering," Taieb continued.
For many ultra-Orthodox protesters, the demonstrations reflect growing opposition to compulsory military service and the arrests of men accused of avoiding the draft.
"I have several sons who, under current law, are classified as draft evaders, and every day we live in fear that they will come to arrest them. Their only 'offence' is that they live according to their faith," Yigal Wertheimer said.
Military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews has become one of Israel's most divisive domestic issues. Long-standing exemptions for many Haredi men have come under increasing pressure since Israel's Supreme Court ruled on June 25, 2024, that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, while the military continues to face personnel shortages during the Gaza war.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
