Thursday, April 10, 2014

Orth. Jews, Police Clash in Jerusalem Over Draft; Protest New Law Requiring They Serve in Military

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters took to the streets in Jerusalem today (April 10, 2014) to demonstrate against conscription, according to the Euro News website.

Police say the protesters hurled stones and bottles at them and set rubbish bins on fire. A new law which was passed last week will end the exemption from conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, which is almost as old as the state of Israel itself.

Police on horseback pushed the protesters back and five were arrested. The demo was staged as a show of support for an ultra-Orthodox man who refused to appear at a recruitment center, as required by the new law.

The sons of Israel's secular majority serve three years mandatory military service from the age of 18, and most believe that ultra-Orthodox Jews should also be required to serve three years. On the other hand, ultra-Orthodox leaders say they serve their state through religious study and prayer, and fear integration into the military will pose a threat to their pious way of life.

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