Teen killed after bus ploughs into Haredi draft law protest in Jerusalem; Netanyahu urges calm

A wave of tension and grief has swept through Israel after a teenage yeshiva student was killed during ultra‑Orthodox protests against a proposed law to draft the Haredi (ultra‑Orthodox Jewish) community into the military.

The incident took place on Tuesday night when a public bus plowed into a crowd of demonstrators in central Jerusalem, leaving 18‑year‑old Yosef Eisenthal dead. Video from the scene shows the bus dragging the boy for several metres before the collision.

Police have arrested and questioned the driver, who told investigators he was attacked by protesters before the crash, according to the Associated Press.

Netanyahu’s call for calm

In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged restraint to prevent further violence.

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“I call for restraint to prevent the mood from becoming further inflamed so that, heaven forbid, we do not have additional tragedies,” Netanyahu said in a statement, adding that the incident would be thoroughly investigated.

The protest, part of ongoing resistance to changes in military conscription policy, reflects deep seismic divisions in Israeli society over whether ultra‑Orthodox men, long exempt from compulsory service, should be required to serve.

The roots of the conflict

For decades, Israel has granted draft exemptions to full‑time religious students, a practice that began when the ultra‑Orthodox community was small and has since expanded as that population grew.

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Critics—particularly secular Israelis—have called the exemptions unfair, especially as the Israel Defence Forces face manpower shortages after years of conflict on multiple fronts.

Conversely, many ultra‑Orthodox leaders argue that military service would threaten their way of life and religious study, framing enlistment as harmful to community identity. The protests have drawn tens of thousands to the streets in recent months, with demonstrators singing, praying and at times blocking roads to voice their strong opposition.

The issue has also put Netanyahu’s fragile coalition under pressure. Ultra‑Orthodox parties have previously withdrawn key support over draft disputes, leaving the government without a secure majority.