
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews scuffled with police in Jerusalem on Sunday in protest against a court ruling that could require them to serve in the army like secular Israelis.

The demonstration in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of the city was organised by a particularly hardline group known as the Eda Haredit.

Rabbis gave speeches in Yiddish in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood, while a banner read: 'We're Jews and therefore will not enlist in the Zionist army.'

Israeli police use water cannon to disperse Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators blocking a main junction as they protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem on Sunday

The protest (pictured above) came after the Israeli Supreme Court rejected a goverment bill exempting Haredi service from the Israeli army

The demonstration in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of the city was organised by a particularly hardline group known as the Eda Haredit

Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish men are sprayed with water during clashes with police at a protest against the detention of a member of their community who refuses to serve in the Israeli army

Israeli Border Police arrest an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators blocking a main junction as they protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem

Israeli policemen carry an ultra-Orthodox Jewish youth during clashes at a protest against the detention of an ultra-Orthodox man who refuses to serve in the Israeli army

The protest became violent when demonstrators blocked roads and resisted efforts to disperse them by riot police, mounted officers and water cannon.

'Eight rioters who used violence against police were arrested,' a police statement said in Hebrew.

'They lay down in the road, shouting slogans against the police, some of them threw stones at police,' the statement added.

Last week's Israeli Supreme Court decision strikes down a law exempting ultra-Orthodox men engaged in religious study from military service, saying it undermines equality.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks past burning items in the street in ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Jerusalem on Sunday during the prostest

Israeli security forces try to disperse ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators from the road in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Jerusalem on Sunday

Many of the men taking part in the protest in Sunday sat on the ground and refused to get up during the demonstration in Jerusalem

The protest became violent when demonstrators blocked roads and resisted efforts to disperse them by riot police, mounted officers and water cannon

Last week's Israeli Supreme Court decision strikes down a law exempting ultra-Orthodox men engaged in religious study from military service, saying it undermines equality

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrator holds a banner reading 'We and our sons are ready to be killed and not to be drafted in the IDF which is against our holy Torah', during the protest

Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish men are sprayed with water during clashes with police at a protest against the detention of a member of their community who refuses to serve in the Israeli army

Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish men are surrounded by police officers on horseback during a demonstration in Jerusalem on Sunday

The decision raises the possibility that they could be forced into service, a highly contentious proposition with political implications.

However, the court suspended its decision for one year to allow for preparations for the new arrangement - which also provides the government with the opportunity to pass a new law.

Ultra-Orthodox political parties and their allies in government are likely to draft new legislation that could seek to override the court ruling and keep the exemption in place.

The ultra-Orthodox parties form a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, and have often acted as kingmakers in Israeli politics.

A unit of mounted police tries to disperse Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators blocking a main junction as they protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem

Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish men clash with police at a protest against the detention of a member of their community who refuses to serve in the Israeli army

sraeli Border Police arrest an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators blocking a main junction as they protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem

An ultra-Orthadox man watches the police officers around him as he takes part in a demonstration against army recruitment in Jerusalem on Sunday

Members of the Israeli security forces detain an ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrator in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Jerusalem on Sunday

Israeli Border Police arrest an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators blocking a main junction as they protest against army recruitment

Israeli security forces remove Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators from the road during a demonstration in Jerusalem on Sunday

Israeli security forces carry a man by his arms and legs as they remove him from a protest over army recruitment in Jerusalem on Sunday

Israeli security forces remove ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators from the road during a demonstration in Jerusalem on Sunday

The issue is part of a decades-old debate over whether young ultra-Orthodox men studying at seminaries should undergo compulsory military service like the rest of Israel's Jewish population.

After reaching the age of 18, men must serve two years and eight months, and women must serve for two.

The ultra-Orthodox oppose serving for a variety of reasons, with the most extreme believing a Jewish state is not allowed before the coming of the Messiah.

Others argue that seminary study is just as important to Israel as military service or that ultra-Orthodox soldiers would be confronted with salty language and other irreligious behaviour.

The ultra-Orthodox parties form a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, and have often acted as kingmakers in Israeli politics

The ultra-Orthodox oppose serving for a variety of reasons, with the most extreme believing a Jewish state is not allowed before the coming of the Messiah

The issue is part of a decades-old debate over whether young ultra-Orthodox men studying at seminaries should undergo compulsory military service like the rest of Israel's Jewish population. After reaching the age of 18, men must serve two years and eight months, and women must serve for two

Israeli security forces remove ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators from the road in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Jerusalem on Sunday

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrator is seen on the ground during a protest over army recruitment in Jerusalem on Sunday

Members of the Israeli security forces carry an ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrator as they remove him from the street during Sunday's demonstration in Jerusalem

Israeli police use water cannon to disperse Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators blocking a main junction as they protest against army recruitment in Jerusalem

When it comes to army recruitment, some argue that seminary study is just as important to Israel as military service or that ultra-Orthodox soldiers would be confronted with salty language and other irreligious behaviour