Dozens Protest In Jerusalem Against Conscription

Dozens of participants staged a protest this evening (Monday) against conscription to the IDF on Yehezkel Street in Jerusalem. According to police, during the last hour, the protest turned into violent disorder.

The statement continued that during the protest, a traffic route was blocked, damage was caused to a bus, trash cans were set on fire, damage was caused to a police vehicle, and stones and objects were thrown that caused minor injuries to a passing citizen and a police officer.

After they did not heed the dispersal order given by a police officer at the scene, police forces and Border Guard fighters began operations to disperse the breach of order, using among other things means designed for this purpose.

Even at this hour, police continue operations to restore order in the area.

At the end of the police statement it was said that "forces will continue to allow protests as long as law and order are maintained during them, however we will deal with every breach of order, minor or serious, particularly those during which citizens and police officers are harmed by lawbreakers, with all means at our disposal. The goal is to protect the security and peace of the public and the police officers at the scene, alike."

As of this writing, the government is no closer to passing a draft law acceptable to all parts of the coalition, which would both ensure sweeping exemptions for those learning Torah in yeshivah while also ensuring an increasing number of Haredim enlisting in the IDF. A Haredi source speaking to the media also expressed great skepticism that such a law could pass muster with the Supreme Court.