13 oct 2016
The United Nations body passes resolution denying all connection between Jews, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount; Netanyahu: 'To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and Western Wall is like saying China has no connection to the Great Wall.'
The United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a draft resolution on Thursday that failed to acknowledge the Jewish people's ties to the Temple Mount, raising ire in Israel.
The proposal "strongly condemns the Israeli escalating aggressions and illegal measures against the Waqf Department and its personnel, and against the freedom of worship and Muslims’ access to their Holy Site Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al Sharif, and requests Israel, the Occupying Power, to respect the historic Status Quo and to immediately stop these measures."
It omits the Jewish name for the holy site—the Temple Mount—and instead refers to it only by its Muslim name—Al-Haram Al Sharif.
The Palestinians have demanded that an international delegation experts be sent to the holy sites to examine what they have described as the destruction of historical and archeological heritage by Israel. They allege that this has been carried out in a variety of manners, including the building of the Jerusalem light rail and archeological excavations.
The Palestinians are seeking, inter alia, to appoint a UNESCO permanent observer in Jerusalem and to appoint a series of condemnations of Israeli activities, such as the alleged demolition of a school in Kfar Adumim. Israel claims that it was a dilapidated caravan that was destroyed and "not a school."
The draft resolution, submitted by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Sudan, will be referred to UNESCO’s executive board for formal approval next week.
Twenty-four countries voted in favor of the proposal: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chad, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Vietnam.
Six countries voted against it: Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States.
While 26 countries abstained from the vote: Albania, Argentina, Cameroon, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and Nevis, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Ukraine.
Serbia and Turkmenistan were absent from the vote.
Israel, along with the United States, has been working in recent weeks to reduce the majority support within UNESCO's executive board. These efforts bore fruit, leading France, Sweden, Slovenia, India, Argentina, and Togo, who initially supported the resolution, to abstain instead.
As part of these efforts, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a pamphlet of the historical Jewish connection to Jerusalem, which has been distributed to all 120 permanent delegates to UNESCO whose countries have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel slams draft resolution
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision to adopt the resolution, saying “The theatre of the absurd continues with UNESCO and today the organization has made its most bizarre decision by saying the people of Israel have no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.”
“Obviously they have never read the Bible," he continued, “but I would advise UNESCO members to visit the Arch of Titus in Rome, where they can see what the Romans brought to Rome after they destroyed and looted the Temple Mount two thousand years ago. One can see engraved on the arch the seven-branched menorah, which is the symbol of the Jewish people as well as the symbol of the Jewish State today.”
“Surely UNESCO will say that Emperor Titus was a part of Zionist propaganda,” he noted wryly.
“To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and Western Wall is like saying China has no connection to the Great Wall of China or Egypt has no connection to the pyramids. With this absurd decision, UNESCO has lost what little legitimacy it once had. However, I believe that the historical truth will prevail,” he concluded.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked added that “the UN is breaking its own record of ignorance and anti-Semitism. An organization that purports to represent science and education, instead presents the rotten politics of dictatorial Islamic countries. Instead of enlightened Western countries leading the organization, some are blindly following the shameful decision.”
Israeli efforts against the resolution
In an unusual move, Israel on Thursday sought the Holy See's help in forestalling the adoption of the resolution, arguing that it will also harm Christians.
In addition, Israel's permanent delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Carmel Shama Hacohen, explained that the Palestinians enjoy an automatic majority of support at UNESCO and so his goal was to expand as much as possible the number of those opposed.
"We are mobilizing to erode and drive a wedge in the automatic majority that has stood against us for the past two years," he said. "The efforts are indeed bearing fruit: From the situation we were in when only the USA voted for us alone, we've gradually increased the number to six countries and also increased the number of abstainers."
Shama Hacohen went on to say that "Israel and the Jewish people don't require UNESCO's or any other country's confirmation of the special connection between the Jewish people and the State of Israel and Jerusalem in general and the holy sites therein like the Western Wall and the Temple Mount in particular."
The ambassador continued, "There is no connection of another people to another place in the world that comes close to the strength and depth of our connection to Jerusalem from a religious, historical and national perspective, a connection that has stood the test of 2,000 years."
US Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Ambassador Crystal Nix-Hines has explained in the past to UNESCO's executive board that unilateral decisions on the Middle East have made it harder for the American administration to resume paying its UNESCO membership fees.
Shama Hacohen noted that the US Congress has blocked President Barack Obama's efforts to resume the payments, some €80 million per annum, as both the Republicans and Democrats have opposed UNESCO's decisions regarding Jerusalem.
Earlier Thursday, before the passing of the resolution, President Reuven Rivlin remarked that "There is no festival more connected to Jerusalem than Sukkot. The festivals of Israel all highlight the inextricable bond between our people and our land, and no forum or body in the world can come and deny the connection between the Jewish people, the Land of Israel and Jerusalem—and any such body that does so simply embarrasses itself."
Rivlin added that "We can understand criticism, but you cannot change history."
The United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a draft resolution on Thursday that failed to acknowledge the Jewish people's ties to the Temple Mount, raising ire in Israel.
The proposal "strongly condemns the Israeli escalating aggressions and illegal measures against the Waqf Department and its personnel, and against the freedom of worship and Muslims’ access to their Holy Site Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al Sharif, and requests Israel, the Occupying Power, to respect the historic Status Quo and to immediately stop these measures."
It omits the Jewish name for the holy site—the Temple Mount—and instead refers to it only by its Muslim name—Al-Haram Al Sharif.
The Palestinians have demanded that an international delegation experts be sent to the holy sites to examine what they have described as the destruction of historical and archeological heritage by Israel. They allege that this has been carried out in a variety of manners, including the building of the Jerusalem light rail and archeological excavations.
The Palestinians are seeking, inter alia, to appoint a UNESCO permanent observer in Jerusalem and to appoint a series of condemnations of Israeli activities, such as the alleged demolition of a school in Kfar Adumim. Israel claims that it was a dilapidated caravan that was destroyed and "not a school."
The draft resolution, submitted by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Sudan, will be referred to UNESCO’s executive board for formal approval next week.
Twenty-four countries voted in favor of the proposal: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chad, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Vietnam.
Six countries voted against it: Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States.
While 26 countries abstained from the vote: Albania, Argentina, Cameroon, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and Nevis, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Ukraine.
Serbia and Turkmenistan were absent from the vote.
Israel, along with the United States, has been working in recent weeks to reduce the majority support within UNESCO's executive board. These efforts bore fruit, leading France, Sweden, Slovenia, India, Argentina, and Togo, who initially supported the resolution, to abstain instead.
As part of these efforts, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a pamphlet of the historical Jewish connection to Jerusalem, which has been distributed to all 120 permanent delegates to UNESCO whose countries have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel slams draft resolution
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision to adopt the resolution, saying “The theatre of the absurd continues with UNESCO and today the organization has made its most bizarre decision by saying the people of Israel have no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.”
“Obviously they have never read the Bible," he continued, “but I would advise UNESCO members to visit the Arch of Titus in Rome, where they can see what the Romans brought to Rome after they destroyed and looted the Temple Mount two thousand years ago. One can see engraved on the arch the seven-branched menorah, which is the symbol of the Jewish people as well as the symbol of the Jewish State today.”
“Surely UNESCO will say that Emperor Titus was a part of Zionist propaganda,” he noted wryly.
“To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and Western Wall is like saying China has no connection to the Great Wall of China or Egypt has no connection to the pyramids. With this absurd decision, UNESCO has lost what little legitimacy it once had. However, I believe that the historical truth will prevail,” he concluded.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked added that “the UN is breaking its own record of ignorance and anti-Semitism. An organization that purports to represent science and education, instead presents the rotten politics of dictatorial Islamic countries. Instead of enlightened Western countries leading the organization, some are blindly following the shameful decision.”
Israeli efforts against the resolution
In an unusual move, Israel on Thursday sought the Holy See's help in forestalling the adoption of the resolution, arguing that it will also harm Christians.
In addition, Israel's permanent delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Carmel Shama Hacohen, explained that the Palestinians enjoy an automatic majority of support at UNESCO and so his goal was to expand as much as possible the number of those opposed.
"We are mobilizing to erode and drive a wedge in the automatic majority that has stood against us for the past two years," he said. "The efforts are indeed bearing fruit: From the situation we were in when only the USA voted for us alone, we've gradually increased the number to six countries and also increased the number of abstainers."
Shama Hacohen went on to say that "Israel and the Jewish people don't require UNESCO's or any other country's confirmation of the special connection between the Jewish people and the State of Israel and Jerusalem in general and the holy sites therein like the Western Wall and the Temple Mount in particular."
The ambassador continued, "There is no connection of another people to another place in the world that comes close to the strength and depth of our connection to Jerusalem from a religious, historical and national perspective, a connection that has stood the test of 2,000 years."
US Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Ambassador Crystal Nix-Hines has explained in the past to UNESCO's executive board that unilateral decisions on the Middle East have made it harder for the American administration to resume paying its UNESCO membership fees.
Shama Hacohen noted that the US Congress has blocked President Barack Obama's efforts to resume the payments, some €80 million per annum, as both the Republicans and Democrats have opposed UNESCO's decisions regarding Jerusalem.
Earlier Thursday, before the passing of the resolution, President Reuven Rivlin remarked that "There is no festival more connected to Jerusalem than Sukkot. The festivals of Israel all highlight the inextricable bond between our people and our land, and no forum or body in the world can come and deny the connection between the Jewish people, the Land of Israel and Jerusalem—and any such body that does so simply embarrasses itself."
Rivlin added that "We can understand criticism, but you cannot change history."
The council meeting for FIFA, the worldwide football association, that opens on Thursday, October 13, 2016 in Zurich, will hear from a monitoring committee it established in 2015 to review its sponsorship of matches on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
In a report issued on September 25, 2016, Human Rights Watch called for FIFA to bar its affiliate, the Israeli Football Association (IFA), from organizing football activities in West Bank settlements because those settlements are illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention governing the transfer of population to occupied territory.
Six football clubs that play in the IFA host their official home matches in settlements, on land unlawfully taken from and off-limits to Palestinians.
FIFA’s own rules prohibit a member association from holding competitions on the territory of another member association without permission. In an October 8 letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the Palestine Football Association reiterated its objection to FIFA-sponsored matches in settlements.
“The council meeting is a chance for the new FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to show FIFA’s commitment to upholding human rights in its operations,” said Minky Worden, global advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “The council should rule that if settlement teams want to maintain their FIFA affiliation they must relocate to Israel.”
Human Rights Watch has extensively documented abuses tied to FIFA activities and infrastructure construction, including in Russia and Qatar in preparation for the World Cup competitions scheduled in those countries for 2018 and 2022 respectively. Human Rights Watch has urged FIFA to develop effective rights policies and practices to end such abuses and enable victims to secure redress.
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Israel and Palestine, please click here
sources: Human Rights Watch press release
In a report issued on September 25, 2016, Human Rights Watch called for FIFA to bar its affiliate, the Israeli Football Association (IFA), from organizing football activities in West Bank settlements because those settlements are illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention governing the transfer of population to occupied territory.
Six football clubs that play in the IFA host their official home matches in settlements, on land unlawfully taken from and off-limits to Palestinians.
FIFA’s own rules prohibit a member association from holding competitions on the territory of another member association without permission. In an October 8 letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the Palestine Football Association reiterated its objection to FIFA-sponsored matches in settlements.
“The council meeting is a chance for the new FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to show FIFA’s commitment to upholding human rights in its operations,” said Minky Worden, global advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “The council should rule that if settlement teams want to maintain their FIFA affiliation they must relocate to Israel.”
Human Rights Watch has extensively documented abuses tied to FIFA activities and infrastructure construction, including in Russia and Qatar in preparation for the World Cup competitions scheduled in those countries for 2018 and 2022 respectively. Human Rights Watch has urged FIFA to develop effective rights policies and practices to end such abuses and enable victims to secure redress.
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Israel and Palestine, please click here
sources: Human Rights Watch press release
12 oct 2016
Rabbi Rami Brachyahu
Rabbi Rami Brachyahu chosen as the top religious figure in the police despite problematic past statements: 'We instruct police officers how to not get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark.'
Much like the IDF's recently-appointed Chief Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim, the Israel Police's new chief rabbi Rami Brachyahu's past is mired by a series of controversial statements against the LGBT community and about women.
One such statement determines that while "We need to demonstrate warm and humane treatment towards homosexuals as private people and as individuals … we cannot allow having in our community couples whose lifestyle is not in line with the laws of nature."
He also signed a letter of support of religious-Zionist Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, who labeled LGBT persons as "perverts" in a controversial speech.
In a February 2015 interview given to the website Kippa, Rabbi Brachyahu was asked about the sex scandals that plagued the Israel Police in 2015.
"We give the police officers moral and ethical basis and instruct them how not to have heart-to-heart conversations and how not to get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark," he said in response. "It's true that this is complex and unhealthy, but it doesn't mean it's not possible."
Rabbi Brachyahu is also among the rabbis who are against female service in the IDF.
Brachyahu, the rabbi of the West Bank settlement of Talmon, was approved by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan after being chosen by Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh.
Alsheikh adopted the recommendation of an appointment committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Zohar Dvir, which was established in May
2016 and mandated to look for an "educational figure," with "proven halachic ruling ability" and "the ability to connect to the variety of officers serving in the Israel Police."
"I accept this role with fear and trepidation, while understanding the weight of the responsibility placed on me," Rabbi Brachyahu said on Monday, upon the approval of the appointment.
Rabbi Brachyahu heads the Beit Midrash project "Believing in the Police," which seeks to reconcile the work of police officers in the field with Jewish law (halacha). Among other things, the project encourages the recruitment of police officers from among the religious-Zionist sector and has so far brought dozens of young officers into the force.
As part of the project, officers who encountered halachic dilemmas during their service would turn to Rabbi Brachyahu. At the time, this was an undeveloped field in halachic rulings.
Among his rulings, Rabbi Brachyahu determined a police officer is allowed to desecrate the Shabbat while on duty, even in a situation that is not defined as "pikuach nefesh"— the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration—such as securing large-scale events on Saturday evening.
When asked about refusing an order when it comes to evacuating Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the rabbi said an effort must be made to be relieved of such an assignment by speaking to one's commanders rather than intransigently refusing an order.
He is also considered moderate when it comes to the halachic ban on women singing when men are present.
The Israel Police said in a statement on Monday that "We are confident that Rabbi Brachyahu will serve as a bridge to all the different sectors in the force and outside of it and will serve as a spiritual figure and moral compass to police officers everywhere."
The ultra-Orthodox public protested Rabbi Brachyahu's appointment, as he was chosen over their own candidate, Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who has been the acting police rabbi over the past few years. Rabbi Gafni's close associates claimed the religious-Zionist Alsheikh chose someone of his own sector and have threatened to petition the High Court of Justice against the appointment.
Meanwhile, the religious-Zionist Tzohar organization of rabbis welcomed the appointment, saying "Rabbi Brachyahu is a great Torah scholar, an important halachic ruler, who established the 'Believing in the Police' project where he has been dealing for years with public and individual affairs with sensitivity and great wisdom."
Rabbi Rami Brachyahu chosen as the top religious figure in the police despite problematic past statements: 'We instruct police officers how to not get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark.'
Much like the IDF's recently-appointed Chief Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim, the Israel Police's new chief rabbi Rami Brachyahu's past is mired by a series of controversial statements against the LGBT community and about women.
One such statement determines that while "We need to demonstrate warm and humane treatment towards homosexuals as private people and as individuals … we cannot allow having in our community couples whose lifestyle is not in line with the laws of nature."
He also signed a letter of support of religious-Zionist Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, who labeled LGBT persons as "perverts" in a controversial speech.
In a February 2015 interview given to the website Kippa, Rabbi Brachyahu was asked about the sex scandals that plagued the Israel Police in 2015.
"We give the police officers moral and ethical basis and instruct them how not to have heart-to-heart conversations and how not to get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark," he said in response. "It's true that this is complex and unhealthy, but it doesn't mean it's not possible."
Rabbi Brachyahu is also among the rabbis who are against female service in the IDF.
Brachyahu, the rabbi of the West Bank settlement of Talmon, was approved by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan after being chosen by Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh.
Alsheikh adopted the recommendation of an appointment committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Zohar Dvir, which was established in May
2016 and mandated to look for an "educational figure," with "proven halachic ruling ability" and "the ability to connect to the variety of officers serving in the Israel Police."
"I accept this role with fear and trepidation, while understanding the weight of the responsibility placed on me," Rabbi Brachyahu said on Monday, upon the approval of the appointment.
Rabbi Brachyahu heads the Beit Midrash project "Believing in the Police," which seeks to reconcile the work of police officers in the field with Jewish law (halacha). Among other things, the project encourages the recruitment of police officers from among the religious-Zionist sector and has so far brought dozens of young officers into the force.
As part of the project, officers who encountered halachic dilemmas during their service would turn to Rabbi Brachyahu. At the time, this was an undeveloped field in halachic rulings.
Among his rulings, Rabbi Brachyahu determined a police officer is allowed to desecrate the Shabbat while on duty, even in a situation that is not defined as "pikuach nefesh"— the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration—such as securing large-scale events on Saturday evening.
When asked about refusing an order when it comes to evacuating Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the rabbi said an effort must be made to be relieved of such an assignment by speaking to one's commanders rather than intransigently refusing an order.
He is also considered moderate when it comes to the halachic ban on women singing when men are present.
The Israel Police said in a statement on Monday that "We are confident that Rabbi Brachyahu will serve as a bridge to all the different sectors in the force and outside of it and will serve as a spiritual figure and moral compass to police officers everywhere."
The ultra-Orthodox public protested Rabbi Brachyahu's appointment, as he was chosen over their own candidate, Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who has been the acting police rabbi over the past few years. Rabbi Gafni's close associates claimed the religious-Zionist Alsheikh chose someone of his own sector and have threatened to petition the High Court of Justice against the appointment.
Meanwhile, the religious-Zionist Tzohar organization of rabbis welcomed the appointment, saying "Rabbi Brachyahu is a great Torah scholar, an important halachic ruler, who established the 'Believing in the Police' project where he has been dealing for years with public and individual affairs with sensitivity and great wisdom."
Hundreds of French peace activists and Arab community members in France organized a sit-in outside the French Football Federation headquarters in Paris in a protest ahead of a key FIFA meeting to discuss teams from Israeli settlements.
The event was organized as FIFA's executive committee is expected to discuss the issue during meetings on Thursday and Friday.
The protesters have called on FIFA to expel Israeli settlements' football teams.
FIFA is facing pressure to rule that six Israeli football clubs based in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories should either relocate to Israel or be banned from FIFA-recognized competitions.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has earlier said in a report that FIFA is breaking its own rules by allowing clubs in occupied Palestinian territories to compete in its tournaments.
HRW's report follows an online petition signed by more than 150,000 people as well as an open letter from dozens of European MEPs this month calling on FIFA to act on the issue.
The event was organized as FIFA's executive committee is expected to discuss the issue during meetings on Thursday and Friday.
The protesters have called on FIFA to expel Israeli settlements' football teams.
FIFA is facing pressure to rule that six Israeli football clubs based in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories should either relocate to Israel or be banned from FIFA-recognized competitions.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has earlier said in a report that FIFA is breaking its own rules by allowing clubs in occupied Palestinian territories to compete in its tournaments.
HRW's report follows an online petition signed by more than 150,000 people as well as an open letter from dozens of European MEPs this month calling on FIFA to act on the issue.
10 oct 2016
Group of ultra-Orthodox soldiers forced to exit a bus and walk through a rowdy Haredi protest in Jerusalem jeered by anti-Zionist crowds; soldiers respond by singing ‘The eternal nation is not afraid of the long journey.’
Haredi crowds verbally abused dozens of Ultra-Orthodox soldiers serving in the Kfir Netzach Yehuda Brigade in the Ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim Sunday night.
The incident took place next to Shabbat Square when a bus carrying the soldiers came across a Haredi demonstration. As a result of the road being blocked, the soldiers, clad in IDF uniform, were forced to march on foot through the protest.
According to eyewitnesses at the scene, the protesters began hurling abuse at the passing soldiers, such as “Zionists out” and “Hardakim” ("frivolous Haredim") along with other derogatory terms used in the Haredi world for ultra-Orthodox youths who have enlisted in the IDF.
The soldiers, by contrast, responded by dancing and singing, “The eternal nation is not afraid of the long journey.”
The protesters poured onto the neighborhood's streets to demonstrate against the arrest carried out by the IDF military police of a draft dodger. Carrying placards and signs bearing the words “We overcame the pharaoh, we overcame Nebuchadnezzar, we overcame the Nazis and we will overcome this,” they also set fires on the roads and littered the streets as they toppled trash cans.
Over the past few years, the IDF has repeatedly condemned the prevalent phenomenon of violence and threats within the Haredi community directed against soldiers and their families.
In practice however, with the exception of just a few cases in which indictments have been issued, the feature has become increasingly characteristic and thus indicative of the security apparatus’s seeming inability to enforce the law.
Despite the persistent culture of rejectionism however, the IDF is continuing to expand its units to incorporate ultra-Orthodox youth into its ranks.
Next month, for example, the IDF will be establishing a new company within the Paratroopers' Brigade specifically for Haredi men. This will augment the aforementioned company in the Kfir Brigade as well as its equivalent in the Givati Brigade.
Furthermore, efforts will continue to reduce the number of Haredi draft dodgers who are not enrolled in any academic or religious learning program—a fact which qualifies some for either a postponement or total cancellation of military service.
In July, Ynet learned that some 4,000 Haredi draft dodgers had attempted to avoid enlistment under the pretense of religious observance. However, when these individuals were actually investigated by the IDF, using methods—among others—such as Facebook checks, it was discovered that the they were, in fact, leading secular lifestyles and were consequently ordered to draft.
Haredi crowds verbally abused dozens of Ultra-Orthodox soldiers serving in the Kfir Netzach Yehuda Brigade in the Ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim Sunday night.
The incident took place next to Shabbat Square when a bus carrying the soldiers came across a Haredi demonstration. As a result of the road being blocked, the soldiers, clad in IDF uniform, were forced to march on foot through the protest.
According to eyewitnesses at the scene, the protesters began hurling abuse at the passing soldiers, such as “Zionists out” and “Hardakim” ("frivolous Haredim") along with other derogatory terms used in the Haredi world for ultra-Orthodox youths who have enlisted in the IDF.
The soldiers, by contrast, responded by dancing and singing, “The eternal nation is not afraid of the long journey.”
The protesters poured onto the neighborhood's streets to demonstrate against the arrest carried out by the IDF military police of a draft dodger. Carrying placards and signs bearing the words “We overcame the pharaoh, we overcame Nebuchadnezzar, we overcame the Nazis and we will overcome this,” they also set fires on the roads and littered the streets as they toppled trash cans.
Over the past few years, the IDF has repeatedly condemned the prevalent phenomenon of violence and threats within the Haredi community directed against soldiers and their families.
In practice however, with the exception of just a few cases in which indictments have been issued, the feature has become increasingly characteristic and thus indicative of the security apparatus’s seeming inability to enforce the law.
Despite the persistent culture of rejectionism however, the IDF is continuing to expand its units to incorporate ultra-Orthodox youth into its ranks.
Next month, for example, the IDF will be establishing a new company within the Paratroopers' Brigade specifically for Haredi men. This will augment the aforementioned company in the Kfir Brigade as well as its equivalent in the Givati Brigade.
Furthermore, efforts will continue to reduce the number of Haredi draft dodgers who are not enrolled in any academic or religious learning program—a fact which qualifies some for either a postponement or total cancellation of military service.
In July, Ynet learned that some 4,000 Haredi draft dodgers had attempted to avoid enlistment under the pretense of religious observance. However, when these individuals were actually investigated by the IDF, using methods—among others—such as Facebook checks, it was discovered that the they were, in fact, leading secular lifestyles and were consequently ordered to draft.
