A protest in Jerusalem against a proposed law to draft ultra-Orthodox students turned violent, leaving an 18-year-old dead and three others injured after a bus struck multiple pedestrians. Magen David Adom said paramedics pronounced the teen dead at the scene. Police said rioters had blocked the bus and the driver, who is in custody, told investigators he was assaulted before the vehicle hit the young man. The incident intensifies political tensions over conscription and threatens the stability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.
18-Year-Old Killed As Jerusalem Anti-Conscription Protest Turns Violent
Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish youths are protesting plans to end their exemption from military service (ilia yefimovich)(ilia yefimovich/AFP/AFP)
One person was killed and three others were injured on Tuesday during large protests in Jerusalem against a proposed law to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews into Israel's armed forces, emergency services said.
Rescuers reported that a bus first ran over and injured three pedestrians, then continued and struck an 18-year-old who became trapped beneath the vehicle. Magen David Adom said paramedics "pronounced him dead at the scene."
What Happened
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis had marched in Jerusalem to oppose the draft proposal as the military confronts manpower shortages after two years of war on multiple fronts. Mass demonstrations opposing the measure have been held regularly in recent months.
In a police statement, officials said the rally turned violent after "a small group of rioters began violently disturbing public order, including by blocking traffic routes, damaging buses, setting trash bins on fire, throwing objects and eggs at police officers and Border Police, shouting invective, and assaulting journalists working at the scene."
Investigation And Arrest
Police said the bus "was blocked by rioters who were... obstructing the route." The driver was arrested and, during questioning, said he had been assaulted by rioters "after which the unfortunate incident occurred," authorities said. Israeli police sources cited by local media said there were no indications the episode was a terror attack.
Political Context
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from opposition parties and some coalition partners to increase military recruitment, while leaders of ultra-Orthodox parties — long-time allies of Netanyahu — oppose conscripting students who engage in full-time religious study. Since Israel's founding in 1948, men who devote themselves to full-time yeshiva study have effectively been exempt from mandatory military service.
That exemption has drawn increasing scrutiny as tens of thousands of conscripts and reservists remain mobilised across several fronts despite a fragile truce that paused the recent Gaza war. Ultra-Orthodox Israelis make up roughly 14 percent of the country’s Jewish population, and keeping ultra-Orthodox parties aligned with the government is crucial to the survival of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition.
In November, parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee advanced a new draft conscription law after an earlier bill was rejected in July. The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party resigned from the government over the failed bill, leaving Netanyahu's coalition with just 60 of 120 Knesset seats. Ministers from the other main ultra-Orthodox faction, Shas, also resigned from the cabinet, though Shas has not formally left the coalition.
In a separate incident in late October, a teenage boy fell to his death from a high-rise during another mass protest in Jerusalem; Israeli media reported his death was likely a suicide after he left a farewell message on Instagram.
Authorities continue to investigate Tuesday's incident. No further details about the arrested driver or potential charges were immediately available.
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