Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Clash with Israeli Police Over IDF Conscription — Haredi Draft Debate Escalates Domestic Coalition Tensions

On June 1, 2026, Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) protesters clashed with Israeli police in fresh confrontations over IDF military conscription, as the Knesset coalition faces mounting pressure over the contentious issue. The protests reflect deepening divisions within Israel's governing coalition, with Haredi political parties threatening to withdraw support unless conscription exemptions for yeshiva students are preserved. The confrontations come as Israel's military demands increased manpower amid ongoing operations, while the Supreme Court has ruled that Haredi men cannot be legally exempt from military service without a formal law authorizing it. Coalition tensions have mounted in part because Haredi parties have also threatened to back the independent October 7 probe unless the Knesset advances the ultra-Orthodox daycare subsidy bill — demonstrating how the conscription standoff is now intertwined with accountability politics surrounding the October 7 attack. With the Knesset dissolution vote having passed 110-0 on May 20 and early elections looming within five months, the Haredi draft issue is emerging as a central flashpoint in coalition negotiations and election positioning.