Ultra-orthodox Jews protests disrupt traffic across Israel amid opposition to military conscription

Mass demonstrations by ultra-orthodox Jews (Haredim) caused widespread traffic disruption across Israel on Wednesday as protesters opposed efforts to expand mandatory military service for members of the community. Large vehicle convoys travelled at slow speeds from dozens of locations across 19 cities, from northern to southern Israel, before converging on Military Prison 10 near Kfar Yona, where individuals accused of evading military service are being held. The protests were organised in response to recent measures aimed at increasing the enlistment of Haredi men into the Israeli military. United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf led one of the convoys departing from Jerusalem and criticised the government’s conscription policy. “It is inconceivable that a young man can study Torah in Bulgaria without […]