Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) gathered in Jerusalem on Thursday to protest against mandatory conscription into the Israeli Army, marking one of the largest demonstrations of its kind in recent times.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he "will not allow the nation to be divided" and called for an immediate end to the strike declared in protest against the decision to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews.
"We will not allow Israeli society to be divided," Reuters quotes him as saying. "I call for an immediate end to the strike and a return to negotiations."
Previously, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the current system of exemptions from conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews is unconstitutional and must be replaced by July 31.
