Dozens of late‑night ultra‑Orthodox rioters stormed the West Bank settlement of Alon Shvut on Wednesday, smashing windows and vandalising the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg. Police detained 65 participants for questioning, though no injuries were reported. The protest targeted the court that ended the long‑standing significant draft exemption for Haredi men, a ruling that remains largely ignored.

Israel’s army, strained after the 2023 Gaza war and successive fronts, now reports a shortfall of thousand soldiers. Analysts warn the manpower gap could force the IDF to postpone the rollout of new missile systems slated for next year. Reserve units are being recalled for tours, fueling resentment toward Haredi communities that dodge conscription. Haredi actions include highway blockades and a police‑station siege in Beit Shemesh.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, urging law‑enforcement to take a hard line, while two coalition ultra‑Orthodox parties denounced a campaign against Torah scholars. The episode adds pressure on Netanyahu’s right‑wing government, which relies on Haredi support to pass legislation formalising broader conscription. The unrest rattles the shekel as markets price potential delays to defence procurement.