Ultra-Orthodox March Against IDF Sparks Outrage, Coalition Silence
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox march in Jerusalem featured anti-IDF slogans and honored draft dodgers.
- Coalition parties remained silent, likely to avoid disrupting Netanyahu's election agenda.
- Opposition leaders strongly condemned the march and criticized the government's silence.
- Draft dodgers reportedly received NIS 1,000 from foreign donations.
- The event occurs less than a month before upcoming elections.
An ultra-Orthodox procession in Jerusalem, where participants reportedly called the IDF "the enemy" and honored draft dodgers, has drawn widespread condemnation, though the ruling coalition has remained largely silent. The event, held less than a month before elections, featured extreme factions of the Haredi community protesting against military service and celebrating individuals who evaded conscription. Some participants carried signs in English with anti-Israel messages, and draft dodgers were reportedly given NIS 1,000 each from donations originating abroad.
Ofer Winter, a new right-wing figure and chairman of 'Am Israel,' was one of the few to publicly denounce the march, criticizing the honor shown to draft dodgers while soldiers are serving. He also questioned the connection of such actions to the right-wing camp, whose voters largely serve the country. Winter's remarks came after he was accused by the Likud party of aligning with Avigdor Lieberman to form a future government.
The silence from the Likud and its coalition partners, including Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit, is attributed to a desire to avoid disrupting Prime Minister Netanyahu's current agenda, which focuses on security threats and international meetings. Addressing the Haredi issue, perceived by many as "Haredi extortion" and Netanyahu's capitulation to their demands, could alienate a significant portion of the right-wing electorate, particularly undecided voters.
Opposition leaders strongly condemned the march. Gadi Eisenkot of Yisrael Beiteinu framed the upcoming election as a choice between a government of evasion and a Zionist enlistment government. Naftali Bennett stated that the Netanyahu-Der'i government is paying Haredim billions and has pledged more, calling draft evasion a true security threat. Avigdor Lieberman criticized Netanyahu's partners and demanded an investigation into the funding for the draft dodgers. Yair Golan condemned the anti-IDF slogans in the capital, highlighting Netanyahu's alliance with these groups and the billions transferred to them.
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