Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested in Jerusalem yesterday against plans to enlist men from their community into the military, a proposal supported by the secular majority pushing for a more equal share of the burden on Israeli society, the Reuters website reports today (May 17, 2013).
A sea of black coats -- the traditional attire of ultra-Orthodox men -- engulfed Jerusalem streets near the city's military draft bureau, where the crowd heard rabbis warn that army service of ultra-Orthodox Jews would irreparably harm their way of life.
"The government wants to uproot (our traditions) and secularize us, they call it a melting pot, but people cannot be melted. You cannot change our (way of life)," Rabbi David Zycherman told the crowd in an anguished plea.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said at least 20,000 protesters took part and about a dozen arrests were made when violence erupted and men hurled bottles and stones at officers -- some on horseback -- who used stun grenades to quell the unrest. At least six officers required medical treatment and two were taken to a hospital, Rosenfeld added.
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