Hundreds of people gathered in Jerusalem to protest the decision to award the Israel Prize to Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.
Public outrage persists over the rabbi's statement, "if we are forced to join the army, we will all go abroad."
Demonstrators, holding Israeli flags and posters, congregated near the rabbinate building, urging all members of Israeli society to serve in the army.
One protest leader, Moshe Radman Abutbul, conveyed, "Politicians and public figures must understand that our struggle is intensifying. If they expect us to remain silent while they drain the state treasury, neglect the hostages, and ignore the people's desire for equal distribution of responsibilities, they are mistaken."
He emphasized the importance of deputies, ministers, and public figures listening to taxpayers' opinions to avoid regretting their indifference in the future.
