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Israeli forces clash with ultra-Orthodox military draft protesters

Tuesday, 21 November 2017 12:38 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 21 November 2017 12:38 PM ]

Israeli forces use a water hose against ultra-Orthodox demonstrators as they disperse a protest against conscription in Bnei Brak, a city near Tel Aviv, November 20, 2017. (AFP)

Israeli forces on Monday tried to disperse ultra-Orthodox protesters demonstrating against conscription in Bnei Brak.

Several hundred demonstrators blocked the traffic, while police tried to disperse the crowds by deploying water cannons.

Dozens of people were reportedly arrested with two officers and 12 protesters left injured.

Military service in Israel is compulsory for all men and women who are 18 years old, but back in 1948 Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion allowed 400 ultra-Orthodox Jews to avoid compulsory service to study the Torah.

Earlier in September, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews were unconstitutional.

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