Eight Ultra-Orthodox Jews Arrested in Protests Against Military Service
An Israeli police officer on a horse attacks ultra-Ortodox jews at Tel HaShomer recruitment base, Aug. 6, 2024. Photo: X/ @zxcv1991123
August 6, 2024 Hour: 11:31 am
Army spokesperson Hagari defended the recruitment as an ‘operational necessity’ for Israel.
On Tuesday, eight ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) were arrested during protests against mandatory military service at the gates of the Tel Hashomer military recruitment center, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
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Several hundred Haredim threw bottles at mounted police, who erected barriers and parked trucks to block a secondary entrance to the center. Tensions at the protest escalated until some of the demonstrators jumped over the fences of Tel Hashomer and infiltrated the base.
“Police forces removed the protesters,” said Army spokesperson Daniel Hagari, who warned that breaking into the base constitutes “a serious crime” and defended the recruitment of the ultra-Orthodox as an “operational necessity” for Israel, which has been carrying out an offensive against the Palestinian people in Gaza for ten months.
In the last 48 hours, about 1,100 ultra-religious youths have received orders to report to the recruitment office, following a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court that overturned the exemption that has kept them out of the Army for decades.
Only a few dozen recruits arrived at the center today, while hundreds of ultra-Orthodox of all ages gathered at the gates for the second consecutive day to protest. Zionist authorities declared this demonstration illegal.
Walla outlet estimates that only a third of those summoned will end up serving in the armed forces, as the spiritual leaders of the religious communities themselves have called for ignoring the recruitment orders.
At the beginning of April, a temporary rule that allowed the maintenance of the military exemption for the Haredim expired. Since the founding of the State of Israel, they have avoided mandatory service. This religious group represents around 13 percent of the Israeli population.
After months of controversy over whether the measure would continue in effect, the Israeli Supreme Court decided that “there is no legal basis to exclude ultra-Orthodox men from recruitment” and that if they do not serve in the Army, they should also not receive educational subsidies or social assistance.
The Zionist state has been pressuring the entire young population to comply with their military service after mobilizing about 300,000 reservists for its offensive against in Gaza and Lebanon. Now, the 67,000 eligible Haredi men face their gradual entry into the Israeli armed forces.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
