Netanyahu Condemns Arrests of Haredi Draft Dodgers at Airport
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the arrest of around 50 Chabad Hasidic draft dodgers at Ben Gurion Airport, calling it unacceptable and detrimental to the ultra-Orthodox enlistment process. The Shas party echoed this sentiment, labeling the arrests a political intervention. Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of making deals for political survival. The detainees were suspected of evading IDF conscription.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the arrest of dozens of Chabad Hasidic draft dodgers at Ben Gurion Airport.
- Netanyahu stated the arrests were unacceptable and harmed the ultra-Orthodox enlistment process.
- Shas party called the detentions a political intervention and is negotiating for the release of the students.
- Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman criticized Netanyahu's alleged deal with Haredi parties.
- Around 50 Chabad Hasidic individuals were detained upon returning from New York, suspected of draft evasion.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the arrest of dozens of draft dodgers from the Chabad Hasidic community at Ben Gurion Airport upon their return from New York. Speaking to religious radio station Kol Barama, Netanyahu called the arrests "unacceptable" and stated they hinder the process of enlisting Haredim into the army without coercion. He asserted that these arrests represent a "deliberate attempt to harm the process of enlisting the ultra-Orthodox into the army without coercion," adding that while he respects Torah scholars, those who do not study should serve. The Shas party also denounced the detentions, labeling them a political move. In a statement, Shas declared that the "gross and unprecedented political intervention by the government's legal advisor in the election campaign through orders for violent detentions of yeshiva students, despite the temporary law passed to prevent political interference during the election period," led to their strong condemnation of the arrests. Shas indicated that Knesset Member Inon Azulai, on behalf of party chairman Rabbi Aryeh Deri, was negotiating with senior IDF officials to secure the immediate release of those detained. The article notes that the High Court of Justice (BAGATS) had previously canceled a law that froze prosecution of Haredi draft dodgers, a law Shas referenced. Opposition leaders also weighed in, with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid accusing Netanyahu of revealing a "disgusting deal with Deri and Goldknopf, evasion of IDF service in exchange for the government." Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman stated Netanyahu is "again proving he is a hostage to draft dodgers" and insisted that all Israelis are equal before the law. Approximately 50 members of the Chabad Hasidic movement, suspected of evading IDF conscription, were detained at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning. They had returned as an organized group, following advice from their lawyer who believed the IDF would be unable to handle the situation and would release them all.
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