Progressive Campaign Against Hesder Yeshivas Could Backfire, Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Press Warns

The article says religious Zionists, known as the “knitted kippah” public, are facing a progressive campaign against hesder yeshivas, and argues the effort could have the opposite effect by driving them toward the ultra-Orthodox camp. It frames the dispute as part of a wider set of tensions over religion, politics, and public space in Israel.

It also points to anger at Jerusalem’s municipality, which reportedly spent millions of shekels to block what critics describe as the “Haredization” of the Gilo neighborhood. The article presents this as another example of resistance to religious change in the city.

A separate incident mentioned in the roundup involved a police officer who was filmed pleading with ultra-Orthodox protesters, saying, “It’s only a ticket.” The piece also notes that far-left organizations have taken off the gloves and threatened, “We will block Bnei Brak before Shabbat begins.”

The roundup closes by saying that after a series of violent incidents, the rabbi of the Ger community called on his Hasidim to act. No further details of that appeal are provided in the headline text, but it is presented as part of the same escalating atmosphere.