Ultra-Orthodox Draft Evasion Protest Sparks Outrage in Jerusalem

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox men participated in a large demonstration in Jerusalem protesting the imprisonment of draft evaders, primarily young men who were arrested upon returning from Uman, Ukraine, after the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Protestors carried signs labeling the IDF as the "enemy army" and referring to the draft evaders as "hostages," with slogans such as "Free the hostages from prison 10." The procession, organized by extremist elements of the Jerusalem Faction and zealots, began in the Geula neighborhood and caused significant traffic disruptions.

Approximately 100 draft evaders were invited to the event, with about 50 attending. Organizers reportedly distributed hundreds of shekels to each participant. Despite prior coordination with the police, law enforcement was notably absent during the march.

The protest and its messaging ignited a political firestorm, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, denounced the march as "Netanyahu's parade of shame," accusing the government of promoting draft evasion and neglecting security. He stated, "A government that has promoted evasion, abandons security, and for months hasn't even bothered to arrest draft evaders, can no longer hold the reins of leadership of the State of Israel. Its days are numbered."

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, also attacked the demonstration, calling it a "welcome parade for 'released' draft evaders" and asserting that these individuals are Netanyahu's partners. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett echoed these sentiments, linking the issue to upcoming elections and vowing to stop state funding for those who do not enlist.

The protest occurs against a backdrop of recent police decisions to avoid proactive arrests of yeshiva students and ongoing disputes between the IDF and the Israel Police regarding responsibility for apprehending draft evaders. Arrests are currently primarily conducted at Ben Gurion Airport, where no proactive measures are needed. A similar protest took place earlier in the week in Bnei Brak, which was later revealed to be the launch event for a new ultra-Orthodox protest party called "Tzeva Shachor" (Black Color), advocating for complete exemption from military service for the Haredi sector.