Boiling Anti-War Protests in Israel... Netanyahu's Position Shakes

Tens of Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jews Protest Conscription
Anti-Government Demonstrations Demand Hostage Return and Early Elections Continue

Palestinian armed faction Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been engaged in war for over eight months, are facing political instability. Amid the dissolution of Israel's wartime cabinet after internal conflicts, anti-government protests demanding early elections, as well as protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews opposing conscription, have surged.

On the 30th (local time), according to major foreign media including the Associated Press (AP), tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem clashed with police in violent protests against the Supreme Court's conscription ruling. Protesters, dressed in black brimmed hats and matching tops and bottoms, occupied the streets and threw stones at vehicles of senior officials. Police responded with water cannons, local police reported.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The majority of Jews in Israel are subject to mandatory military service regardless of gender. However, ultra-Orthodox parties have used strong political influence to exempt their followers from military service, allowing them to study in yeshivas instead. On the 25th, the Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox believers are also subject to conscription, sparking protests in response. The ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as 'Haredi,' are estimated to make up about 12% of Israel's total population, with approximately 67,000 conscription candidates among them.

The day before the anti-conscription protests, anti-government demonstrations demanding the return of hostages held by Hamas and early elections were held across Israeli cities, including the capital Tel Aviv. Protesters criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for not actively pursuing hostage release agreements through mediators, allegedly due to his cautious stance toward far-right factions within the coalition government. A retired general claimed, "Netanyahu is obstructing negotiations despite knowing that hostages in Gaza Strip tunnels are being tortured and killed."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) analyzed that the Supreme Court's ruling further weakened Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition amid the dissolution of Israel's wartime cabinet after internal strife. Ultra-Orthodox parties such as Shas and the United Torah Judaism (UTJ), which formed the coalition government with Netanyahu, have threatened to withdraw from the coalition if military service exemptions for their followers end. Earlier, The New York Times (NYT) noted, "With low support for the Netanyahu coalition, if even one party withdraws, the coalition could collapse, leading to new elections."

Meanwhile, major foreign media reported that since the war broke out in the Gaza Strip last October, the United States has supplied Israel with nearly 30,000 air bombs and precision-guided missiles. According to anonymous U.S. government officials, the U.S. has provided Israel with at least 14,000 MK84 large 2,000-pound (approximately 907 kg) air bombs, as well as 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground guided missiles and 1,000 bunker buster bombs.