Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men rallied in Jerusalem on Thursday to protest against military conscription for their community, an issue that has caused major strain in Israel’s right-wing ruling coalition.

The vast crowd was demonstrating to demand a law guaranteeing their right to avoid Israel’s mandatory military service – long promised by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Crowds of men set fire to pieces of tarpaulin as hundreds of police officers cordoned off several roads across the city.

Demonstrators packed onto the tops of buildings, petrol stations, signal bridges and balconies above a sea of fellow protesters, some of whom held signs declaring: “Better to go to prison than to the army.”

A helicopter flew overhead as people gathered to take part in collective prayers.