Tens of thousands assembled in Jerusalem on Sunday, mirroring scenes from the previous year, to protest against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and demand an end to exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from military service.
Organized by protest groups that led mass demonstrations in 2023, the rally outside the Knesset called for a new election to replace the current government.
The demonstrators sought a fairer distribution of the burden of military service, which largely falls on most Israelis.
The ongoing conflict with Hamas since October 7 resulted in approximately 600 soldiers killed, marking one of the military’s highest casualty tolls in recent years.
Reports indicated that it was the largest demonstration since the onset of the conflict. Netanyahu’s cabinet faced widespread criticism over the security lapse during the Hamas attack, which claimed numerous lives and led to hostages being taken to Gaza.
Among the protesters was Nurit Robinson, 74, who criticized the government, labeling it a “complete and utter failure.”
The war with Hamas exacerbated existing societal tensions, particularly regarding exemptions for ultra-Orthodox seminary students from military service, further unsettling Netanyahu’s coalition government.
With a looming deadline to address the exemption issue, Netanyahu sought a 30-day deferment from the Supreme Court.
While the court granted additional time for discussions until April 30, it also ordered a suspension of state funding for seminary students subject to conscription.
Protesters waved Israeli flags and chanted slogans demanding immediate elections. Netanyahu expressed confidence in finding a solution, warning against holding elections amid ongoing conflict, fearing it would paralyze the country.
In Tel Aviv, families of hostages and their supporters staged a protest, blocking a major highway to highlight Netanyahu’s perceived failure to secure their release.
