Jerusalem – Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested in Jerusalem on Thursday against plans to enlist men from their community into the military, a proposal supported by the secular majority pushing for a more equal share of the burden on Israeli society.
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A sea of black coats – the traditional attire of ultra-Orthodox men – engulfed Jerusalem streets near the city’s military draft bureau where the crowd heard rabbis warn that army service would irreparably harm their way of life.
“The government wants to uproot (our traditions) and secularize us, they call it a melting pot, but people cannot be melted. You cannot change our (way of life),” Rabbi David Zycherman told the crowd in an anguished plea.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government has committed to increase drafting ultra-Orthodox men, most of whom receive exemptions on religious grounds, in order to share the national burden and reduce pressure on the middle classes.
The party of Finance Minister Yair Lapid, Netanyahu’s main coalition partner, received wide support at the polls in January on a pledge to resist demands by religious parties and to spread the load of army service and taxation more evenly.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said at least 20,000 protesters took part and about a dozen arrests were made when violence erupted and men hurled bottles and stones at officers, some on horseback, who used stun grenades to quell the unrest.
A water cannon was also deployed as protesters set alight garbage bins, a regular occurrence at ultra-Orthdox demonstrations. At least six officers required medical treatment and two were taken to hospital, Rosenfeld added.
An Israel Radio commentator said the participants came from the most hardline elements of the ultra-Orthodox community who shun any compromise with the authorities on army service and even refuse to recognize the Jewish state for religious reasons.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews make up some 10 percent of Israel’s population of 8 million. Most do not work, they receive military service exemptions and rely heavily on state subsidies for their religious studies and to support their families.
About 60 percent of ultra-Orthodox men engage in full-time Jewish religious studies, keeping them out of the labor market.
On Tuesday, the cabinet approved a budget draft that will slash spending and hike taxes this year and next to rein in a growing budget deficit. Lapid has warned that failure to implement public spending cuts could cause an economic collapse.
Israel’s budget deficit was 4.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year – more than double its initial target -due to overspending by the previous government and lower-than-expected tax revenues as the economy slowed.
The issue of drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the military is part of a broader struggle between the secular majority and ultra-Orthodox minority over lifestyle in the Jewish state.
Most Israeli men and women are called up for military service for up to three years when they turn 18. However, exceptions are made for most Arab citizens of Israel, as well as ultra-Orthodox men and women.
Fitness to serve your nation is a mitzvot. Perhaps these ultraorthodox do not purify themselves with Torah mitzvot? In this case that can be said.
This ain’t gonna turn out good, as they say down south.
After Yom Tov & Kabbalas HaTorah -All we can really say is Oy Vay! We need Hashem’s help. All of us have the moral duty to follow the accepted Gadol HaDor – HaRav Shteinman Shlita who has decided upon dialogue with the Israeli Government instead of the Chillul Hashem we see in these pictures. Just a reminder of the gravity of Chillul Hashem to VIN readers ” It is better that a letter should be eradicated from the Torah so that the Name of Heaven will be sanctified in public” (Yevamos 79a) This is in reference to Shmuel II ,21:3-10 when Hashem sent a plague on the Jewish nation as a result of King Shaul’s having put some Gibonim to death. Dovid HaMelech reluctantly agreed to have descendants of King Shaul killed – as urged by the Navi – & – kept the men hanging for months ( neged Halacha). Why? The Gemara in Yevamos continues that if a passerby sees the men hanging and ask what’s going on..the Jews must answer that these were Sons of the King & they violated the rights of aliens & the passerby will see this a K”H because, if this nation treats Princes who did wrong to foreigners Kal V’chomer they”ll be strict with ordinary people.” Maspik with the self proclaimed Zealots(Be”H)
They should MOVE out of Israel, if they don’t want to abide the laws.
““The government wants to uproot (our traditions) and secularize us, they call it a melting pot, but people cannot be melted. You cannot change our (way of life),” Rabbi David Zycherman told the crowd in an anguished plea.”
If “people can’t be melted,” and you “cannot change our way of life,” then what’s the problem?
#6 what are you drinking?
Is it a nation created by the people of the Torah?
Waste of time, they trying already 60 years to bring in the jews to the IDF & didn’t work same will be now, jews need to sit & learn. Stop fighting with the arabs let them live there life & give them back what you stole from them in 1967 & will be peace
Y don’t. Arabs serve???