In the heart of Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, a group of female Israel Defense Forces soldiers found themselves fleeing for safety amid a chaotic riot unleashed by ultra-Orthodox protesters. The incident unfolded Thursday evening as the soldiers, on routine patrol, were suddenly surrounded by an angry crowd shouting epithets and pelting them with stones and plastic bottles. Videos circulating on social media captured the harrowing escape, with the women sprinting through narrow alleyways while pursued by dozens of black-clad Haredi men, some wielding sticks.
The confrontation stemmed from escalating protests against a recent Supreme Court ruling mandating the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men and women into the IDF, ending decades of draft exemptions for yeshiva students. Demonstrators, who view military service—particularly for women—as a violation of religious principles, had gathered to block roads and clash with security forces. Eyewitnesses reported that the soldiers, identifiable by their uniforms, became immediate targets, with protesters yelling "Sharmuta!"—a vulgar Hebrew slur—and accusing them of desecrating Jewish values by serving in mixed-gender units.
Israeli police intervened swiftly, deploying water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd, arresting over 20 individuals in the melee. The IDF issued a statement condemning the violence, emphasizing that attacks on serving personnel undermine national security at a time when the military faces heightened threats from Hamas and Hezbollah. One soldier, speaking anonymously to Channel 12 News, described the ordeal as "terrifying," noting how the mob's fury intensified upon recognizing their gender.
This episode highlights deepening rifts within Israeli society between its secular majority and the growing ultra-Orthodox minority, which now comprises about 13% of the population and wields significant political influence through coalition partners. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has struggled to balance coalition demands for draft exemptions with court mandates and public outrage over unequal burden-sharing during wartime. Critics argue the protests, often turning violent, erode the social contract binding Israel's diverse communities.
Analysts warn that such incidents could fuel broader polarization, especially as reservists—many secular—complain of repeated call-ups while Haredi communities remain largely exempt. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called for unity, stating, "No soldier, man or woman, should fear for their life on home soil." As tensions simmer, the government faces a ticking clock: implement the draft or risk judicial intervention and street unrest that could destabilize the fragile wartime coalition.
