Are Haredim going to war with the government? 

An ultra-Orthodox newspaper ignited fresh controversy on Thursday with a front-page headline declaring "war" on the Israeli government, amid deepening divisions over haredi conscription into the IDF. The Yated Ne’eman, affiliated with the Lithuanian faction Degel Hatorah, part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, featured the bold word "war" alongside the text: “When the country of Israel tramples over the red line, the predatory power will need to confront the world of Torah.”

The provocative statement follows UTJ's mid-July exit from both the government and coalition, stemming from failed negotiations on a haredi draft law. It was triggered by the arrest of two yeshiva students for evading conscription, prompting leading haredi figure Rabbi Dov Landau to call an “emergency consultation meeting” at his home Wednesday evening.

Last night, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Moshe Tzedakah held lengthy consultations, after which a dramatic statement was released:

“Rabbi Tzedakah’s directive: Take to the streets. A massive protest will be held Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at the ‘Maran Junction’ (Bar Ilan) in Jerusalem under the guidance of the leading rabbis of Israel, headed by the Rosh Yeshiva. The protest is in response to the ongoing draft decrees targeting the ultra-Orthodox community, particularly the arrest of two yeshiva students from the Yitzhakov family, taken from their home in the middle of the night by the army for the 'crime' of studying Torah."

Rabbi Tzedakah added:

“How can a Torah scholar, in whom the spirit of God dwells, not go out tomorrow (Thursday) to the public square and protest the humiliation of Torah learners—the crown jewels of creation, now being degraded in the Holy Land?”

Large-scale protests by the haredi community are anticipated today in response to the arrests. UTJ MK Meir Porush urged preparations for "the most far-reaching measures to protect the world of Torah by every legal means," warning that "any harm to the Torah of Israel is a declaration of war on 1.39 million Haredi Jewish citizens."

Israeli politicians swiftly condemned the headline. Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) retorted: “Update for Yated Ne'eman readers: There is indeed a war in Israel, but it’s in a different place, and people are truly being killed in it.” Religious Zionist Party MK Zvi Sukkot accused editor Yisrael Friedman of "pouring more fuel on the fire of hatred and division against the haredi public," noting the ongoing real war's toll.

Yisrael Beytenu MK Avigdor Liberman doubled down on his hardline stance: “Anyone who evades military or civil service will not receive benefits or affirmative action. If they don’t contribute, they won’t receive. No enlistment, no vote.”

TODAY'S PROTESTS:

Police are on high alert ahead of the demonstrations: In Jerusalem, members of the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox community will protest the arrest of yeshiva students, while the Jerusalem Faction (Peleg Yerushalmi) is expected to protest near Bnei Brak.

Alongside the ultra-Orthodox demonstrations, against what they view as the State of Israel’s deviation from its path and persecution of Torah scholars, hostage families are also expected to protest.

Police are preparing for all events, especially in the Tel Aviv area, and have mobilized officers from across the country to assist in today's operations. Due to the volume of events, the Tel Aviv District Commander has declared a 12-hour workday for all local police personnel.

According to a police source cited by N12: “This is the most challenging day we’ve faced in recent times. Multiple protests, all with explosive potential. Even under normal circumstances there’s a significant shortage of officers, today is a real test.”

Families of hostages are expected to protest ahead of the cabinet meeting, where ministers will discuss a potential Gaza invasion, after Hamas hardened its stance and rejected a proposed deal.

While police sources reportedly received instructions to act with restraint toward hostage families and wounded IDF veterans participating in the protests, it's unclear if similar leniency will be shown to ultra-Orthodox demonstrators, either from the Jerusalem Faction or Sephardic community.

At this stage, the mainstream Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox leadership has not yet joined the call to protest, though that may change at any moment depending on directives from senior rabbis.