Three Israeli police injured in Haredi anti-draft protest in al-Quds

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
31 Oct 2024 18:37
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Ultra-Orthodox Jews attempted to block buses at the Tel Hashomer base, prompting Israeli security forces to intervene.

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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters display placards during a demonstration against conscription in al-Quds on October 31, 2024 (AFP)

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews, declaring they would rather die than serve in the Israeli military, gathered outside a military induction center to protest the enlistment of several religious students into the Israeli occupation military, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

Members of the Jerusalem Faction attempted to block buses at the Tel Hashomer base, prompting Israeli security forces to intervene, according to Ynet.

Israel Police announced that three officers were injured and six individuals arrested during the anti-draft protest staged by ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as Haredi Jews, in al-Quds on Thursday afternoon.

🇮🇱 Haredi Jews in Tel Aviv protested outside a recruitment center, declaring, “We will die but not join the army.” Clashes with Israeli police ensued.

Source: Ynetpic.twitter.com/Nr12SCy4yj
— Royal FM 94.3 Kigali (@RoyalFMRwanda) October 31, 2024

The latest demonstration reflects deep-seated tensions in the Knesset regarding Haredi enlistment, an issue reignited by the High Court of Justice’s July ruling, which found there was no longer a legal basis for exempting ultra-Orthodox students from military service.

Since the establishment of the Israeli occupation entity in 1948, a rule has exempted ultra-Orthodox individuals from military service if they commit to studying Jewish texts.

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly assured his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners that his government will push forward legislation to grant widespread exemptions for Haredi men from mandatory military service, The Times of Israel reported.

The debate over ultra-Orthodox military service remains one of the Israeli occupation entity's most divisive, with repeated governmental and judicial efforts over the years failing to establish a lasting resolution.

The issue has gained urgency as the Israeli occupation military faces a shortage of soldiers and increased demands on reservists due to "Israel's" ongoing war on Gaza and aggression on Lebanon.

Criticizing the Israeli government for its intention to pass a law that would exempt ultra-Orthodox settlers from military conscription amid a rising number of Israeli casualties and injuries, the chairman of the Israel Beitenu party, Avigdor Lieberman, told Ynet, "We lost nearly 800 soldiers in battles, we have nearly 11,000 wounded."

"We all see that it is possible to combine Torah study with military service and reserve service. It is possible to combine Studying the Torah with work. There is no reason for anything to be exceptional here, there is no reason for them to be privileged."