Haredim protest ultra-orthodox draft, clash with Israeli police
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Israeli police use cannons loaded with skunk-scented water to disperse Haredi Jews protesting against the new conscription law.
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Ultra-Orthodox protesters burn trash during a demonstration against conscription to the IOF in occupied al-Quds on June 30, 2024. (AP)
Violent clashes erupted between Israeli police and Haredi demonstrators in occupied al-Quds against a historic High Court verdict ordering the government to begin calling up ultra-Orthodox males for military service.
For decades, ultra-Orthodox men of military age have avoided Israeli army conscription by enrolling in yeshivas for Torah study and obtaining repeated one-year service deferrals until reaching the age of exemption. In 2017, the High Court ruled such mass exemptions illegal and discriminatory. Subsequent occupation governments have attempted without success to devise new legislation to address the issue while seeking repeated deferrals from the court.
Tens of thousands of men gathered Sunday evening in Mea Shearim, an ultra-Orthodox area, to oppose the decree, before moving into downtown occupied al-Quds and being dispersed using water cannons loaded with skunk-scented water.
The protests have still not been brought under control with many protesting early Sunday holding placards that read "not even one male" should be called to service.
Protesters carried signs reading: “We will not enlist in the enemy army,” and: “We will die and not enlist.”
Some protesters attacked the car of United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf. Protesters threw stones at his car, beat the vehicle, and insulted him as he drove by, according to Israeli media.
Minutes later, the Israeli police swept him out of the area.
#Israel🇮🇱Haredim protesting the conscription of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students to the military attack the car of United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf.
— WORLD AT WAR (@World_At_War_6) June 30, 2024
Source: Times of Israel@academic_la pic.twitter.com/bfFAFZ2JjQ
The Israeli High Court of Justice's nine-judge panel unanimously voted for the conscription of Haredi Jews into the military and the halt of all subsidies and funds allocated for institutions that do not comply with the ruling, according to the Jerusalem Post.
As the Haredim have been relentlessly protesting against the occupation government's decision to impose a mandatory draft into the military on the community, a drastic change in the political atmosphere in "Israel" could be anticipated, even leading to new elections.
The Supreme Court's decision will be immediately applied, unlike a precedent made in April, which endured delays for fund freezing until August 8.
Israeli media revealed on Wednesday that the Israeli occupation army is pushing for the formation of a new force, the 96th Division - David Division, due to the scarcity of troops responsible for various security tasks.
Amir Bohbot, the military correspondent for the Israeli Walla news website, explained that the force would consist of soldiers who have reached the age of military exemption and volunteers, including Haredi Jews.
According to the Human Resources Division, the number of soldiers in the force could reach up to 40,000 after the military exemption age was raised by two years.
Bohbot further noted that the Haredim might be drafted in reservist brigades, then battalions, while simultaneously maintaining their lifestyle. Volunteers could also be enlisted with the reservist force.
