Sparking outrage: Israeli military recruitment list fuels division

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
5 Feb 2024 16:19
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Israeli settlers signed up for non-yeshiva programs are protesting a decision that will divert 850 of them to the occupation military's combat units.

Israeli settlers protest outside the Knesset in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, as a committee meets to decide on the future of 1,300 Israeli students, on February 5, 2024. (@talirona/X)

A measure aimed at the early recruitment of around 1,300 Israeli students, enrolled in pre-army, community service, and yeshiva programs, has sparked outrage, particularly among candidates participating in the first two mentioned programs.

Hundreds of settlers are protesting the measure outside the Israeli Knesset in occupied al-Quds, as a Knesset committee currently meets in a closed session to debate the issue.

The protest was organized by the "Mothers on the Front" group which was formed as part of the anti-judicial overhaul protests movement. The core of the issue stems from what is perceived within Israeli settler communities as the inequitable treatment of settlers who have not gone down the path of religious studies.

Settlers who sign up for yeshiva programs study at traditional Jewish educational institutions focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha. Historically, settlers who opt for this route have found loopholes to avoid military service under the occupation's military.

Israeli protesters are calling for the current enlistment order to be revised, as it currently draws a larger number of candidates from the pre-army and community service programs. In detail, 450 settlers from yeshivas will be selected while another 850 from non-religious programs will be selected for early service.

Originally, the Israeli Security Ministry had only planned to select 150 students from yeshivas, but the number was raised after parents and program directors pressured the government to do so, The Times of Israel reported.

Unlike previous decisions, this one comes against the backdrop of an Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which has seen at least 562 Israeli soldiers killed since October 7.

New recruits will be directed toward combat units, which continue to participate in wide-scale invasions, which include close combat situations in a maze-like urban terrain that has been detrimental to several Israeli special units.

It is worth noting that dozens of students participated in Monday's protests at the Knesset.