Hundreds of Israeli Youth March to Knesset Protesting Legislation Favoring Draft Evasion

Hundreds of Israeli teenagers, pre-military academy students, and alumni marched to the Knesset on stretchers in a protest against proposed legislation benefiting ultra-Orthodox draft evaders. The demonstration was initiated by two alumni of the Hanaton pre-military academy, Tomer Kraim and Itay Shaul, and quickly gained support from various pre-military academies and organizations. Participants included members of the Scouts Movement, the Mixed Pre-Military Academies Movement, the Kibbutz Movement, the Religious Kibbutz Movement, Dor BaMil, the Next Generation Fund, and Mothers on the Frontline. The protest aimed to oppose legislative efforts perceived as favoring draft dodgers within the ultra-Orthodox community. The march to the Knesset symbolized the participants' call for equal military service obligations and resistance to exemptions granted by the proposed laws.