According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Tensions over military conscription in Israel escalated after ultra-Orthodox protesters forced their way into the residence of the country’s military police chief in the southern city of Ashkelon.
According to military and police sources, approximately 200 demonstrators gathered outside the home of Military Police Chief Yuval Yamin late Tuesday, protesting recent arrests of ultra-Orthodox men accused of evading mandatory service. Some protesters breached the perimeter, climbing over the fence and entering the property.
A security source confirmed that Yamin was not present at the time, but members of his family were inside during the incident. Authorities acknowledged they were aware of the planned protest but were unable to prevent the breach.
The development has been described by local media as a significant escalation in tensions between state authorities and segments of the ultra-Orthodox community.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident and called for firm action against those responsible. Defence Minister Israel Katz also denounced the intrusion, describing it as a targeted act carried out while the officer’s family was at home.
Protests were also reported in other parts of the country. Demonstrators gathered at Golda Meir Junction in Jerusalem, attempting to block roads and clashing with police. Additional protests disrupted traffic along Highway 4 near Bnei Brak, where participants chanted, “We will die and not enlist,” and displayed banners stating, “Secularism is worse than death.”
The unrest follows renewed enforcement actions against draft evaders after a temporary pause. Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 that ultra-Orthodox men are subject to conscription, intensifying a longstanding national debate over military service obligations…..See More
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