Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters blocked traffic along a major highway in central Israel on Thursday to demonstrate against efforts to conscript Haredi men into the military. The protesters were affiliated with the Jerusalem Faction, an extremist ultra-Orthodox group that opposes enlistment requirements for yeshiva students and other Haredi men. The demonstration caused traffic disruptions and clashes with police officers. The protest was organized in response to increasing efforts by the IDF to expand the draft of ultra-Orthodox men, as it faces personnel shortages caused by the ongoing war and after a court ruling in June ended blanket exemptions from army service.