Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Block Highway 4 Over Draft Evasion Arrests
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Ultra-Orthodox activists blocked Highway 4 near Ra'anana on Wednesday protesting the arrest of draft-evading men. The IDF reported arresting 42 Haredi men returning from New York, with some agreeing to enlist and others sent to military prison. Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized the arrests, while opposition figures like Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman accused him of a deal with Haredi parties. Meanwhile, 110,000 draft evaders, mostly Haredi, reportedly continue to receive benefits without enforcement.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox activists blocked Highway 4 in protest of draft evader arrests.
- The IDF arrested 42 Haredi men returning from New York; some will enlist, others jailed.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu called the arrests unacceptable and defended the world of Torah.
- Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of a deal for government support.
- Avigdor Lieberman stated all Israelis are equal before the law regarding military service.
- 110,000 draft evaders, mostly Haredi, reportedly receive benefits without enforcement.
Ultra-Orthodox activists blocked Highway 4 near the Ra'anana junction on Wednesday to protest the morning arrest of a draft-evading Haredi man. Another demonstration is taking place outside the police station in Kfar Saba.
Buses transported the detainees, who belong to the Chabad movement and were returning from studies in New York, to a military facility. The IDF stated that 27 of the detainees expressed willingness to enlist and were found fit for service. They received suspended sentences and were released, with enlistment procedures to begin soon. Thirteen detainees refused to cooperate with the enlistment process and were sent to military prison. Two individuals absent from service for over 540 days were sent directly to military prison.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke out against the arrests, calling them unacceptable. Speaking to Kol Barama radio, he stated, "We must preserve the world of Torah because it preserved us." Netanyahu added that the arrests were a "deliberate attempt to harm the process of recruiting Haredi men without coercion." He clarified, "I deeply respect the world of Torah, but whoever does not study should go enlist."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to Netanyahu's remarks, accusing him of revealing a "disgusting deal" with Aryeh Deri and Yitzhak Goldknopf, suggesting draft evasion in exchange for government support. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and a Member of Knesset, tweeted that Netanyahu is "hostage to the draft dodgers" and that "in the State of Israel, everyone is equal before the law." He asserted that Netanyahu cannot "separate blood from blood."
Separately, it was reported that 110,000 draft evaders, 80% of whom are Haredi, continue to receive benefits without enforcement.
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