Extremist Protesters Attack Activists and Former IDF Commander Outside Jerusalem Haredi Recruitment Conference

On Tuesday evening in Jerusalem, dozens of extremist protesters affiliated with the Jerusalem Faction violently disrupted a conference unveiling Haredi recruitment tracks into the IDF on Jaffa Street. The protest was sparked by calls circulated through anti-conscription groups urging demonstrators to block entry to the event. The protesters attempted to prevent young attendees interested in the recruitment tracks from entering and shouted hostile slogans at police, including "Nazis" and "murderers." Several violent incidents occurred, including an attack on a taxi carrying one of the event organizers, who was assaulted until police intervened.

The protesters also identified journalist Rafi Perlstein as a suspected recruiter and chased him and others through nearby streets, verbally and physically assaulting them. Police restored order and arrested at least one protester involved in the clashes. A primary target of the protesters’ anger was retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter, who spoke at the conference. Upon leaving, Winter was surrounded by dozens of protesters who shouted insults and accusations, including claims that he was a traitor harming the Torah and Jewish people.

Winter, a former commander of the Givati Brigade and the Fire Formation, and former military secretary to the defense minister, supports integrating Haredim who are not full-time yeshiva students into the IDF. He has recently been mentioned as a potential political candidate. Responding to the incident, Winter condemned the extremist faction as unrepresentative of the Haredi community and vowed to continue efforts to integrate Haredim into the military. He called for a firm response against extremists without harming Torah scholars.

The violent protest drew swift political condemnation. Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman denounced the rioters as violent draft dodgers and vowed that in the next government, draft evaders would be forced to serve. Former minister Yoaz Hendel also criticized the violence, calling it a disgrace and questioning the silence of national leaders including the prime minister and security minister. The incident highlights ongoing tensions over Haredi conscription in Israel.