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Eight ultra-Orthodox protesters were arrested in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh last night as demonstrations over military enlistment turned violent.

Hundreds of demonstrators reportedly overturned bins, hurled rocks at police and blocked traffic. One police officer was injured, while seven arrests were made in Jerusalem and one in Beit Shemesh.

The protests were sparked by the arrest of an ultra-Orthodox seminary student who failed to report to an IDF enlistment centre as ordered. Several similar violent incidents have taken place during the last several months after individuals were arrested for failing to report for enlistment.

Traditionally, ultra-Orthodox seminary students have been granted widespread exemptions from military service, despite the vehement opposition of many other Israelis. In 2014, legislation was approved to drastically increase ultra-Orthodox enlistment, requiring that all but 1,800 full-time seminary students enlist in either the IDF or civilian national service once they reach the age of 21.

However, with the return to government of ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas, in the wake of last year’s election, the law was effectively nullified in November. Nonetheless, there are reports of increased voluntary enlistment in the ultra-Orthodox community, making the issue a continual flashpoint.

In a similar rolling back of reforms impacting the ultra-Orthodox community, the Knesset last month voted to end a requirement for ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools to teach core secular subjects as a condition of public funding. During the previous Knesset, a law proposed by the then-coalition party Yesh Atid stipulated that public funding for these institutions would be partly dependent on teaching at least ten weekly hours of subjects such as English, literature, mathematics, nature, and science and technology. It was due to be introduced in 2018.