Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Protesters Block Key Roads Across Central Israel Over Draft

Description

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) protesters blocked major highways across Israel, triggering chaotic scenes as police and motorists confronted demonstrators protesting military draft orders and the detention of yeshiva students. Footage shows law enforcement officers removing protesters from busy roads while some drivers clashed with demonstrators who staged sit-ins and attempted to halt traffic. The protests disrupted travel on several key routes, including Highways 1, 4 and 6, and affected train services. The unrest follows growing tensions over military conscription after Israel's Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox men are subject to mandatory military service, ending decades of exemptions. The issue remains one of the country's most divisive political and social debates.