Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) demonstrators gathered next to the IDF recruitment center in Tel Hashomer on Wednesday morning, protesting the drafting of haredim into the military.
N12 reported that about 80 of the haredi new recruits were due to enlist in combat-support roles. After receiving their kit, they left the center aboard a bus despite attempts by the protesters to block its path. Police were filmed dragging the protesters out of the road. The protest was eventually declared unlawful and one protester was arrested.
Additional protests were held outside the recruitment center in Jerusalem later in the day.
The haredi draft has been deemed vital to fill roles desperately needed by the IDF.
Haredi draft necessary to plug IDF manpower hole
The IDF said on Tuesday that by next month it will have to mobilize a significantly larger number of new recruits – particularly from the haredi community – to avert an impending manpower crisis that is expected to hit next January, when some 2,500 mandatory service combat soldiers will end their service. This will put the military at risk of major staffing shortfalls without a correspondingly large influx of new recruits to replace them.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.