Two female Israeli soldiers were reportedly pursued by a group of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in Bnei Brak last Sunday, February 15, an incident that quickly escalated into widespread unrest and required the intervention of riot police. The confrontation is believed to be directly linked to Israel’s mandatory military conscription laws, which increasingly apply to all citizens, including the ultra-Orthodox community.
Videos circulating widely on social media captured the chaotic scene, showing female Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers running through streets littered with garbage and overturned bins. Amidst the pandemonium, police officers formed protective barricades to shield the soldiers.
Following the disturbances, over 20 individuals were reportedly arrested, according to media reports from the scene. The IDF soldiers were said to be in Bnei Brak to conduct activities related to mandatory conscription. For decades, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have largely been exempt from this national duty, but recent government plans to alter these long-standing rules have ignited significant anger within the community.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently condemned the incident involving the female IDF soldiers, labeling it “unacceptable.”
“These protesters are an extreme minority who do not represent the entire Haredi [ultra-Orthodox] community,” Netanyahu asserted in a post on X. He further declared, “We will not allow anarchy, and we will not tolerate any harm to IDF members and security forces who are carrying out their duties with dedication and steadfastness.”
Adding to the widespread condemnation, several Jewish religious leaders also criticized the actions of the ultra-Orthodox individuals involved in the unrest. In Bnei Brak, a city on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, riot police utilized grenades to disperse the agitated crowd, leading to the arrest of 23 people after the melee subsided.
The clashes resulted in injuries to three police officers and significant damage to several police vehicles, including an overturned patrol car and burned police motorcycles. Israeli television channel Kan reported that at the time the confrontations erupted, the female IDF soldiers were on an official visit to the home of another soldier.
In late 2025, hundreds of thousands of people reportedly participated in one of the largest anti-conscription protests orchestrated by ultra-Orthodox Israelis in recent years. The contentious issue of military conscription has become increasingly heated since the armed conflict in Gaza following October 7, 2023.
The Israeli government is currently debating a draft law that would mandate military service for ultra-Orthodox men, specifically targeting those not engaged in full-time religious studies. This marks a significant shift from the policy in place since the State of Israel was declared in 1948, which exempted full-time religious students enrolled in yeshivas from military service.
More than a decade ago, this exemption was declared unconstitutional by the Israeli Supreme Court. Temporarily, the court officially halted the exemption, prompting the government to begin enforcing conscription within the ultra-Orthodox community. The urgency of this issue is underscored by demographic shifts: the ultra-Orthodox population has more than doubled its proportion within Israel over the past seven decades, now constituting 14% of the total population.
Summary
Two female Israeli soldiers were pursued by ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in Bnei Brak on February 15, leading to widespread unrest and police intervention. This incident is directly linked to Israel’s mandatory military conscription laws, which are increasingly extending to the ultra-Orthodox community. Over 20 individuals were arrested following the clashes, which also resulted in injuries to police officers and damage to vehicles.
The issue of military conscription has long been contentious, as ultra-Orthodox men have traditionally been exempt from service since 1948. The Israeli Supreme Court declared this exemption unconstitutional over a decade ago, and the government is now debating a draft law mandating service for those not engaged in full-time religious studies. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the incident, labeling it “unacceptable” and stating that protesters were an “extreme minority.”