Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protest Israeli military draft in Jerusalem World Oct 30, 2025 5:33 PM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men covered the entrance to Jerusalem in a sea of black Thursday to protest plans to draft them into the military, singing, clapping and holding signs saying they would rather go to jail.

The current draft exemption given to the ultra-Orthodox has caused deep divisions in Israeli society, emerging as the most serious threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

READ MORE: Israeli military warns it will begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men, move that could split government

The embattled leader relies on ultra-Orthodox parties to keep his government limping along, but their attempts to pass a law to permanent

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