Thousands of Jewish ultra-Orthodox men clashed with Israeli police in central Jerusalem on Sunday during a protest against a Supreme Court order for them to begin enlisting for military service.

The landmark decision last week ordering the government to begin conscripting ultra-Orthodox men could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, as Israel wages war in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of men rallied in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood to protest against the order. But after nightfall, the crowd made its way towards central Jerusalem and turned violent.

Israeli police said protesters threw rocks and attacked the car of an ultra-Orthodox cabinet minister, pelting it with stones.

An Israeli police officer drags an ultra-Orthodox man in the street
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men clashed with police (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Water cannons filled with skunk-scented water and police on horseback were used to disperse the crowd. But the demonstration was still not under control late Sunday.

Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel. But politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties have won exemptions for their followers to avoid military service and instead study in religious seminaries.

The long-standing arrangement has bred resentment among the broader public, a sentiment that has grown stronger during the eight-month war against Hamas.

More than 600 soldiers have been killed in fighting, and tens of thousands of reservists have been activated, upending careers, businesses and lives.

Four men run as water cannon sprays them in the street
Police used water cannon to disperse the protesters (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

Ultra-Orthodox parties and their followers say forcing their men to serve in the army will destroy their generations-old way of life.

Earlier on Sunday, thousands of men crowded into a square and joined in mass prayers. Many held signs criticising the government, with one saying “not even one male” should be conscripted.

The ultra-Orthodox parties are key members of Mr Netanyahu’s governing coalition and could potentially force new elections if they decide to leave the government in protest.

Party leaders have not said whether they will leave the government.

Doing so could be risky, with Netanyahu’s coalition’s popularity lagging since the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war.