Thousands in Jerusalem march in protest

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem on Sunday against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and against exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from military service, in scenes reminiscent of mass street protests last year.

Protest groups, including some that led the mass demonstrations that rocked Israel in 2023, organised the rally outside parliament, the Knesset, calling for a new election to replace the government. The protesters also want a more equal share in the burden of army service that binds most Israelis. About 600 soldiers have been killed so far since the Hamas attack of October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, the military’s highest casualty toll in years.

Israel’s N12 News said it seemed to be the largest demonstration since the war began. Haaretz and Ynet news sites said it drew tens of thousands of people. Netanyahu’s cabinet was criticised widely for the security failure when Hamas attacked in southern Israel, reportedly killing 1,200 people with more than 250 taken hostage to Gaza.

“This government is a complete and utter failure,” said Nurit Robinson, 74, at the rally. “They will lead us into the abyss.”

The Gaza war has aggravated an old source of friction in society now also unsettling Netanyahu’s coalition government: exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students from service in the country’s conscript military.

With a March 31 deadline looming for the government to come up with legislation to resolve the issue, Netanyahu filed a last-minute application to the supreme court last week, or a 30-day deferment. The court gave the government until April 30 to submit additional arguments. It ordered suspension of state funding for seminary students who would be liable for conscription from Monday.

Protesters were waving blue and white Israeli flags and chanting “elections now”.

In Jerusalem, Netanyahu said at a media briefing he was confident a solution would be found. He also said that holding an election at the height of war, when he said Israel was so close to victory, would paralyse the country for months.

In Tel Aviv, families and supporters of hostages blocked a main highway, protesting against what they called Netanyahu’s failure to return their loved ones.