Protests Erupt in Israel Against Compulsory Military Service

Tel Aviv: On October 31, 2025, a large-scale protest broke out in Jerusalem as ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups opposed the Israeli government’s decision to revoke exemptions from compulsory military service. The protest, organised by the ultra-Orthodox political parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, saw around 200,000 radical Orthodox youths participating and quickly escalated into violent clashes with police. Tensions mounted as confrontations erupted in several areas. During the protest, a youth fell from a building, and police are investigating whether it was suicide. Journalists covering the event also reported being attacked. 

Image Courtesy: Mehr News Agency

The protest was a direct response to the government’s decision to revoke long-standing exemptions for religious men studying in yeshivas (religious seminaries). For years, these students had been granted exemptions from conscription, as their religious education was viewed as essential for preserving Jewish tradition. However, following the genocide on Gaza brokeout in October 2023, the government began compelling religious students to serve in the military, citing the need for reinforcements. Notices were sent to several youths demanding they enlist, and a bill is currently under review in the Knesset that would include those who do not study full-time religious texts in the military draft.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously promised legislation to formalise these religious exemptions. With the military pressuring the government to mobilise more troops, the exemptions were revoked. This reversal has faced opposition from the ultra-Orthodox parties. 

The tensions over military service in Israel are long-standing. The ultra-Orthodox community has historically viewed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) with suspicion, believing that military service interferes with religious observance. These tensions have now come to a head with the government’s decision to revoke the exemptions.

Image Courtesy: Anadolu Ajansi

Alongside the protests, there has been growing concern within the military about the mental health of soldiers, with reports indicating an increase in suicides. The psychological toll of prolonged war has raised alarms. Many soldiers and their families have voiced opposition to Netanyahu’s war policies, arguing that the government is not doing enough to address the mental strain of military service.

The younger generation in Israel is also showing increasing reluctance to join the military, particularly in the wake of the Genocide on Gaza. Many young Israelis, especially from secular and left-wing backgrounds, are vocal in their opposition to compulsory service, questioning the necessity and morality of joining the IDF in its current form. For many, the government’s handling of the conflict and the broader militarisation of society have become sources of frustration. 

The protests in Jerusalem, the rising suicide rates among soldiers, and the opposition to the revocation of religious exemptions point to a deeper crisis within Israeli society. The ongoing Gaza war has further exacerbated divisions between secular and religious Israelis, as well as between the government and the military. With growing dissatisfaction among both the ultra-Orthodox community and younger generations, Netanyahu’s government faces significant challenges internally.