URGENT UPDATE: A tragic incident unfolded in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening as a bus rammed into anti-conscription protestors, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old Charedi boy, identified as Yosef Eisenthal. The shocking event took place on Shamgar Street, where the bus struck multiple pedestrians before continuing to Ohel Yehoshua Street.
According to Israeli police, the bus hit a total of four individuals during the chaotic scene of mass protests against military conscription. The Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service confirmed the boy’s death, prompting outrage and calls for justice from Charedi leaders. Reports indicate that the bus driver has been arrested and claimed he was attempting to evade protestors blocking his path. He is expected to face court later today on charges of aggravated murder.
This incident has intensified tensions surrounding a controversial draft bill affecting the Charedi community, which has led to large-scale protests across Israel. Demonstrators set fires and blocked roads, leading police to describe some protests as violent, with allegations of “attacks on journalists.”
Charedi Knesset members (MKs) expressed their outrage, attributing the tragedy to what they term anti-Orthodox “incitement.” Meir Porush from United Torah Judaism (UTJ) stated, “It is impossible to ignore the fact that a public atmosphere has emerged that it is permissible to harm the demonstrators.” He emphasized the fear among the ultra-Orthodox community for their safety in Israel.
UTJ leader Yitzhak Goldknopf extended condolences to Eisenthal’s family, stating, “Loss of control and harm to human life cannot be allowed to become the order of the day.” The incident has prompted demands for a thorough investigation and accountability from law enforcement.
The backdrop to this tragedy is a protracted dispute over Charedi conscription, which intensified after the Israeli Supreme Court annulled a religious exemption from service in 2024, a policy that had been in place for over 80 years. The political climate surrounding military service for Charedi men has become increasingly volatile, with Shas threatening to oppose the government’s state budget unless a revised version of the draft bill is passed by March 31.
Rabbi Dov Lando, a prominent figure within UTJ, criticized the government for detaining yeshiva students who refuse conscription, stating, “When a yeshiva student is placed in prison solely because he wishes to study Torah, it is not he who is in prison.” He emphasized the ongoing struggle between religious beliefs and state laws, calling for a peaceful resolution.
As authorities investigate this devastating event, the immediate future of the draft bill remains uncertain. The government faces a pressing deadline to pass the legislation against significant opposition, or risk triggering fresh elections.
This tragic event has resonated deeply within the community and beyond, highlighting the ongoing tensions between religious freedoms and state mandates. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops, and for more news from Israel, click here to sign up for our free Israel Briefing newsletter.
