Seventeen haredi anti-draft protestors indicted after breaking into chief of military police's home

State prosecutors have indicted 17 ultra-Orthodox men, including four minors, for their alleged involvement in a violent anti-draft protest. The demonstrators reportedly breached the locked gate of the chief military police officer's home in Ashkelon on April 28, while his family was present.

“

War on the draft law, in actions and not words

The indictment, filed at the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court, charges the defendants with rioting, trespassing to commit an offense, and malicious damage. According to the charges, dozens of protesters gathered outside Brig.-Gen. Yuval Yamin's residence to protest the enlistment of yeshiva students. The protest escalated when some individuals allegedly forced open the gate and entered the yard.

Protesters carried signs reading, “War on the draft law, in actions and not words,” and chanted slogans such as “We will die and not enlist” and “Yuval Yamin is a traitor.” The indictment states that Yamin’s wife and two children were inside the home and felt endangered, leading them to lock the shutters and call the police. The incident resulted in thousands of shekels in damages, including to the gate.

“

We will die and not enlist

This protest occurred as the haredi draft crisis intensifies, moving from legislative and judicial arenas to street demonstrations. The dispute has sharpened following a High Court ruling that the state can no longer grant broad exemptions to yeshiva students, while soldiers and reservists are serving in the ongoing war.

“

Yuval Yamin is a traitor