ultra-Orthodox Jews protest in Israel Sunday March 02,2014

Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews rally in a massive show of force against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, Sunday, March 2, 2014.

 The widespread opposition to the compulsory draft poses a challenge to the country, which is grappling with a cultural war over the place of the ultra-Orthodox in Israeli society.

With secular Jews required to serve, the issue is one of the most sensitive flashpoints between Israel's secular majority and its devout minority