https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/a3051b4a-550e-4798-ad22-9548f9cec1a8 Tens of thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men rallied in Jerusalem on Thursday against Israeli conscription. For eight decades, Haredi communities were exempt from military service due to their strict religious practices and belief that Torah study provides spiritual protection for Israel. But a landmark Supreme Court ruling in June 2024 struck down that exemption, ending eight decades of immunity from the draft. Although the government has yet to enforce the ruling, growing pressure from right-wing factions, especially since Israel launched its genocide in Gaza, has fuelled fears among the Haredim that widespread conscription may soon begin. Thursday’s rally underscores deepening tensions between Israel’s secular leadership and its ultra-Orthodox population. Support stories that matter. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR0fZh5SBxxMNYdg0VzRFkg/join Catch previous episodes of MEE LIVE, our biweekly news programme exploring the stories shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis, and hard-hitting interviews. Originally airing Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12pm ET | 5pm BST Got a story tip or question? Reach us at MEELive@middleeasteye.org Subscribe to our channel: http://ow.ly/AVlW30n1OWH Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: https://t.me/MiddleEastEye_TG Middle East Eye Website: https://middleeasteye.net Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeasteye Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/MiddleEastEye Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/MiddleEastEye Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:32:44 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://tankie.tube https://tankie.tube/lazy-static/avatars/3ba3ff73-a8b6-49c9-add8-9653ef090c7f.webp https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/a3051b4a-550e-4798-ad22-9548f9cec1a8 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://tankie.tube/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.