Ultra Orthodox protesters break into Israeli army base

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters broke into an Israeli army base near Tel Aviv on Tuesday, the military said, as demonstrations against call up orders for religious Jews previously exempt from conscription continued to flare.

The demonstrations, which took place as Israel braced for an expected barrage of missiles from Iran, underscored the deep splits that have widened in Israeli society 10 months after the start of the war in Gaza.

The military condemned the incident at the Tel Hashomer base, which occurred after protesters managed to break in before being cleared by police.

"Breaking into a military base is a serious offence and is against the law. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) condemns this violent behavior and insists that the protesters be brought to justice," the military said in a statement.

Video footage shared by the Israeli police showed dozens of men in the traditional black suits and hats worn by the ultra-Orthodox community confronting lines of police outside the base.

Israel's Supreme Court ordered the government in June to end a longstanding exemption and draft ultra-Orthodox Haredi seminary students into the military, over the bitter objections of the community and religious parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.

The first call up papers were sent out about two weeks ago and the draftees are due to report to recruitment centres.

Draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews date back to the early days of the state of Israel, when the first prime minister, the Socialist David Ben-Gurion exempted about 400 students from military service so they could devote themselves to religious study. In so doing, Ben-Gurion hoped to keep alive sacred knowledge and traditions almost wiped out in the Nazi Holocaust.

At the time, the Haredis were a tiny minority but the exemptions have become an increasing problem as the community has expanded to make up more than 13% of Israel's population, a proportion expected to reach around a third within 40 years due to a high birth rate.

The issue has simmered unresolved for decades but the war in Gaza, and the possibility of a wider war with Iran and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon, has brought it into sharp focus.

"The enlistment of ultra-Orthodox citizens is an operational necessity and is being conducted in accordance with the law. The IDF is determined to continue advancing it," the military said.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Ros Russell)