Retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter Vows to Continue Promoting Haredi IDF Integration After Attack

A day after being verbally attacked outside a Jerusalem conference aimed at guiding Haredi draft candidates, retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter responded firmly in a video statement. Winter, who spoke at the event to young Haredim about IDF service tracks, said he would not be deterred by threats and would continue his efforts to integrate the Haredi community into the Israeli military.

The confrontation occurred after the conference when dozens of protesters affiliated with the Jerusalem Faction shouted slogans and verbally assaulted attendees. Winter described the protesters as extremists and ignorant individuals who do not represent the broader Haredi public. He emphasized that he has faced greater threats before and that such incidents only strengthen his resolve to address the agitators and their backers.

Winter highlighted the ongoing change within the Haredi community toward military service, noting his past role in this integration and his commitment to continue regardless of his position. He expressed respect for the Torah world but condemned the attackers as representing ignorance and extremism rather than true religious values.

Criticizing the authorities' handling of the protest, Winter said he would have arrested the demonstrators immediately and taken them into military custody, asserting they are not engaged in Torah study but rather in disruptive behavior. He concluded his message with a call to persist in uniting the people of Israel.

Summary: Retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter, attacked by extremists after speaking at a Jerusalem Haredi IDF recruitment conference, vowed to continue promoting Haredi integration into the military and condemned the protesters as unrepresentative extremists.

Points: - Ofer Winter was verbally attacked after addressing a Haredi IDF recruitment event in Jerusalem. - Protesters were linked to the Jerusalem Faction and opposed Haredi military service. - Winter called the attackers extremists who do not represent the Haredi community. - He reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Haredi integration into the IDF. - Winter criticized law enforcement for inadequate response to the protest. - He urged continued efforts to unite Israeli society through inclusion.

Topic: security israel_relevant: true Entities: {"people":["Ofer Winter"],"organizations":["IDF","Jerusalem Faction"],"places":["Jerusalem","Israel"]}