Ultra-Orthodox Jews Protest Against Compulsory Military Service in Israel
Tens of thousands of Haredim gathered in Shabbat Square in the Meashearim neighborhood to protest Israel’s compulsory military service. Holding signs, the Haredim chanted slogans such as “We will not serve in the enemy army” and “We will not serve even if we die.” The Haredim, who blew shofars, also stoned the car of Israeli Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf as it passed through the area.
The Haredim who threw stones at the police set nearby garbage containers on fire. Israeli police intervened with mounted units and tried to disperse the thousands of Haredim by spraying them with foul-smelling pressurized water from TOMAs.
Supreme Court Rules to Exempt Ultra-Orthodox Jews from Military Service
The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that there is no legal basis for exempting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from compulsory military service and that those who are fit for military service should be drafted. The ruling also stated that those who are not drafted are not eligible for publicly funded social welfare and education benefits.
The decision is expected to have political and social consequences. The government’s request for an extension to exempt Haredim from military service was rejected. While opposition parties criticize the exemption of Haredim from military service, the parties representing ultra-Orthodox Jews in Netanyahu’s government oppose the bill that would make military service compulsory for Haredim.
Haredim Make Up About 12 Percent of Israel’s Population
Haredim, who mostly refuse to serve in the military on religious grounds, make up about 12 percent of the country’s population of 9 million. The vast majority of Haredi Jews live in the Maasherim neighborhood in West Jerusalem and in the city of Bnei Brak, near the capital Tel Aviv.
The coalition alliance of Likud leader Netanyahu, who emerged victorious in Israel’s November 1, 2022 elections, includes far-right parties as well as the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties. Most Haredi Jews, who have many differences of opinion with secular Jews, refuse to serve in the military on the grounds that they cannot live according to their religion in the army.
