Protest against compulsory military service by ultra-Orthodox Jews turns violent

THOUSANDS of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have clashed with Israeli police during a protest against a Supreme Court order to begin enlisting them for military service.

Tens of thousands of Jewish men rallied in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood to protest the order before making their way towards central Jerusalem where it turned violent on Sunday evening, according to reports.

Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel.

However, members belonging to ultra-Orthodox parties have previously been exempted from military service and instead study in religious seminaries.

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The decades-long exemption was ruled illegal in 2017 by the court, but repeated extensions and government delay tactics have prevented a replacement law from being passed.

Ultra-Orthodox parties and their followers have said forcing their men to serve in the army will destroy their generations-old way of life and that studying in religious seminaries is their most important duty.

Earlier on Sunday thousands of men came together in a mass prayer and held signs critising the government saying “not even one male” should be drafted.

As night fell protesters began to throw rocks at the Israeli police and attacked the car of an ultra-Orthodox Cabinet minister.

The demonstration was reportedly still not under control by late Sunday evening as police resorted to using water cannons filled with skunk-scented water and horseback officers to disperse the crowds.

Ultra-Orthodox parties are key members of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition and could potentially force an election if they decide to leave the government in protest.

There are roughly 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel which make up about 13% of the population and the majority oppose the ruling for compulsory enlistment.