Dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters on Tuesday rioted outside a conference in central Jerusalem about special tracks for Haredim to enlist into the Israel Defense Forces, the latest violent demonstration by opponents of mandatory military conscription.

Some of the demonstrators blocked a taxi transporting the event’s organizers, kicking and shouting and spitting at them as they left, footage showed.

Protesters at one point chased after media adviser Rafi Perlstein, who supports efforts to enlist ultra-Orthodox men, according to Hebrew media outlets. Police who intervened to protect him were called “Nazis” and “murderers” by the demonstrators.

Perlstein said the assailants snatched his kippa and tried to steal his laptop, before police hustled him into the cab. According to Perlstein, the driver’s son — who has special needs — was in the taxi as it was surrounded by demonstrators, who he said offered to pay the driver to kick him out out the cab but were rebuffed.

“You can argue or protest but whoever raises a hand, spits, vandalizes property and terrorizes a helpless child isn’t defending the Torah or honoring God,” Perlstein wrote on X. “We cannot legitimize violence.”

Police did not report any arrests though footage from the scene showed officers detaining at least one of the protesters, who were affiliated with the extremist Jerusalem Faction.

מארגני הכנס למלש"בים חרדים מותקפים ביציאתם על ידי מפגינים בחוץ pic.twitter.com/g3bXadVy7o — שילה פריד???????? (@shilofreid) August 4, 2026

מארגני הכנס למלש"בים חרדים מותקפים ביציאתם על ידי מפגינים בחוץ pic.twitter.com/g3bXadVy7o

— שילה פריד???????? (@shilofreid) August 4, 2026

דרמה ברחובות ירושלים: חרדים רודפים אחרי........

© The Times of Israel