A 14-year-old boy was struck and killed by a bus during an anti-military conscription protest in West Jerusalem on January 6, 2026, in an incident that has intensified tensions over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from mandatory military service.
Yosef Eisenthal died in the Romema neighborhood when a bus collided with protesters during a demonstration against draft pressure on Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men. Three other teenagers were injured in the incident.
Political Crisis Deepens
The fatal incident highlights a critical divide in Israeli politics. While United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas parties hold only 18 parliamentary seats, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu depends on their coalition support to govern. These parties have repeatedly threatened to leave the government unless legislation preserves Haredi exemptions from military service.
Approximately 90% of the 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reaching conscription age annually receive exemptions, a practice that public polling shows overwhelming opposition to among the general Israeli population.
Government Response
Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a statement expressing "deep pain over the death" and urged "restraint to prevent the mood from becoming further inflamed."
UTJ's Meir Porush criticized what he described as a hostile atmosphere toward protesters: "It is impossible to ignore the fact that more than once during demonstrations there is a public atmosphere that it is permissible to harm the demonstrators."
Coalition at Risk
Political analysts note that the ultra-Orthodox parties view draft requirements as existential threats to their community's way of life. The incident could further strain Netanyahu's already fragile coalition as he navigates between military needs and his political allies' demands.
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