A teenage boy was killed in Jerusalem on Tuesday after a bus drove into a crowd of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting against new laws that would conscript them into the Israeli military.
Deadly Incident at Mass Demonstration
The 18-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene after becoming trapped under the vehicle, according to Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services. The Israeli police detained the bus driver and launched an investigation into the tragic event.
Video footage from the scene shows the bus moving directly into a dense crowd of ultra-Orthodox men, who had gathered to voice their opposition to compulsory military service. Police stated that the bus "was blocked by rioters who were ... obstructing the route," and that the driver claimed he had been assaulted before the incident occurred.
Mounting Tensions Over Military Service Exemptions
The protests come as the Israeli military grapples with significant manpower shortages following two years of conflict on multiple fronts. For decades, ultra-Orthodox men who devote themselves to full-time religious study have been exempt from the mandatory military service that applies to most other Jewish citizens.
This long-standing exemption, established in 1948, is now under intense scrutiny. The issue has become a central point of tension in Israeli society, particularly while tens of thousands of conscripts and reservists remain mobilised despite a fragile truce in Gaza.
The ultra-Orthodox community constitutes roughly 14% of Israel's Jewish population. Their political leaders, traditionally allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, strongly oppose any change to the conscription rules for religious students, who form a core part of their constituency.
Political Crisis for Netanyahu's Coalition
Prime Minister Netanyahu faces mounting pressure from political opponents and some coalition partners to increase military recruitment. However, his right-wing government's survival depends on keeping ultra-Orthodox parties on board.
The political stakes are high. In July, a previous conscription bill was voted down, prompting the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party to quit the government. Netanyahu's coalition now holds a precarious 60 out of 120 seats in parliament. Ministers from another major ultra-Orthodox party, Shas, have resigned over the issue, though the party remains in the coalition.
A new draft law was presented to parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee in November, reigniting public dissent. Police reported that Tuesday's protest turned violent, with a small group blocking traffic, damaging buses, setting fire to rubbish bins, and throwing objects at police officers and journalists.
The death of the teenager marks a tragic escalation in a debate that continues to divide the nation, pitting religious tradition against national security needs in a time of prolonged conflict.
