Haredi March in Jerusalem Celebrates Draft Dodgers, Criticizes IDF
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haredi march in Jerusalem celebrated draft dodgers and criticized the IDF.
- Thousands of participants carried anti-IDF signs, some calling it the 'enemy army'.
- Released draft dodgers received 1,000 shekels each from donations.
- Opposition politicians condemned the march, linking it to upcoming elections.
- Critics called draft evasion a significant security threat to Israel.
Thousands of Haredi Jews participated in a large celebratory march in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening, honoring individuals recently released from detention for evading military service. These individuals are referred to within the Haredi community as "prisoners of the world of Torah." Marchers carried signs denouncing the Israeli military, some labeling it the "enemy army," prompting the Israeli police to close several roads in the area.
The event took place at the intersection of Bar Ilan and Brandis streets, where the released draft dodgers arrived by bus and were greeted with cheers and applause. Following the march, thousands gathered in "Shabbat Square." Rabbi Yehuda Ades, head of the Porat Yosef yeshiva, distributed envelopes containing 1,000 shekels to each of the released individuals, according to the event organizers, who stated the funds were donations from outside Israel. Gift bags with religious messages about the detainees were also given to children.
Protesters held signs calling for the release of those they described as "detained in Prison 10" and advocating against military service, with some anti-state slogans displayed in English. The report indicated that most of the released individuals had been arrested months prior during sporadic, often unplanned, detentions. One participant, Meir Steiner, was arrested after reporting for an investigation at the Lahav 433 unit for suspected illegal issuance of disability exemption certificates. While leaving, military police detained him for draft evasion, leading to a 20-day prison sentence.
The march drew criticism from opposition political figures less than a month before Knesset elections. Gadi Eisenkot of the National Unity party framed the upcoming election as a choice between a "draft-dodging government" and a "Zionist enlistment government." Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused the current government of giving billions to Haredim and warned that draft evasion poses a "real security threat." Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu criticized the march and demanded an investigation into the source of the distributed funds. Yair Golan also condemned the march and the "enemy army" slogans, vowing a "zero tolerance" policy for draft evasion if his party comes to power.
Read the original at i24NEWS ArabicMentioned
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