Rock Music, Mixed Crowds, Then a Raid: Iran Brands Tehran Cafe ‘Satanic’

Fresh unrest has erupted in Israel as radical ultra-Orthodox protesters stormed a police station compound in Beit Shemesh following the arrest of a Haredi draft evader. Dramatic scenes unfolded as demonstrators forced open gates, hurled debris at police, and set nearby vegetation on fire, prompting a major security response. Israeli police, backed by Border Police units, deployed stun grenades and batons to disperse the crowd and regain control of the compound. The clashes come amid growing tensions over military conscription after Israel's 2024 High Court ruling ended long-standing exemptions for many ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service. With thousands of enlistment orders issued and arrests of draft evaders increasing, the issue has become one of the most explosive domestic challenges facing Israel, triggering repeated protests and confrontations between security forces and the Haredi community.