Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest in Jerusalem against new draft law

[jimmy olsen]

Wow, can't believe I missed this. That's a pretty big change to Israeli society, and one long overdue.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/thousands-of-ultra-orthodox-protest-in-jerusalem-against-tal-law-replacement.premium-1.443703

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest in Jerusalem against Tal Law replacement

The Tal Law, which exempts ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from mandatory military service, was declared unconstitutional by the High Court in February, and is due to expire in August.

By Yair Ettinger   | Jun.25, 2012 | 7:49 AM | 5

   Thousands of ultra-Orthodox gathered on Monday morning in Jerusalem's kikar Hashabbat (Sabbath Square) to protest the replacement to the Tal Law, that exempts ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from mandatory military service.

The protest, under the banner "Prayer rally for the cancelation of the decree over civilian and military conscription," took place against a background of the Plesner Committee, which is working on a replacement for the Tal Law

The law, which the High Court of Justice declared unconstitutional in February, is to expire in August.

Hundreds of women also took part in the demonstration, and a side road in the Mea Shearim neighborhood was set aside for the purpose.

The protest was organized by the Edah HaChareidis faction, but rabbis from the central stream also took part, including Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, one of the spiritual leaders of Degel HaTorah.

Auerbach said during the protest that, "We must give our lives against the drafting of yeshiva students [to the army]. In an issue that belongs to the heart of Israel, there are no compromises."

Pini Rosenberg, one of the speakers at the rally, said: "Instead of preparing the prisons for immigrants from Sudan, we suggest to those haters of religion to prepare 50 thousand places of detention for yeshiva students who will refuse to be drafted."

The Plesner Committee started working on a replacement for the Tal Law one month ago. 

[Crazy_Ivan80]

don't they get lots  of money from the state to indulge in their wastrel studies?

[Tamas]

Yeah fucking freeloaders. Especially considering that if all the other citizens (women too!) wouldn't be drafted, these orthodox fuckheads would be the first put against the wall when the Muslims overrun them.

[CountDeMoney]

So what's the difference between "ultra-orthodox" and "orthodox", anyway?  Spandex suits with super powers?

[Neil]

Pini Rosenberg, one of the speakers at the rally, said: "Instead of preparing the prisons for immigrants from Sudan, we suggest to those haters of religion to prepare 50 thousand places of detention for yeshiva students who will refuse to be drafted."

Why not do both?

[Eddie Teach]

They should be abolishing the draft, not the exemption.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Pini Rosenberg, one of the speakers at the rally, said: "Instead of preparing the prisons for immigrants from Sudan, we suggest to those haters of religion to prepare 50 thousand places of detention for yeshiva students who will refuse to be drafted."

Why not do both?

As a guess it'd provide Islamic Jihad with a convenient target.

[Iormlund]

They should be abolishing the draft, not the exemption.

I doubt that is a viable path in Israel. It's just too tiny and surrounded by enemies.

[Neil]

They should be abolishing the draft, not the exemption.

Why would they do that?  Abolishing the draft doesn't really work.

[The Minsky Moment]

I agree with the principle, but in practice it is probably a lot more trouble than it is worth.

[DGuller]

So what's the difference between "ultra-orthodox" and "orthodox", anyway?  Spandex suits with super powers?

It depends on which of the dozens of ultra-orthodox flavors you're comparing against which of the dozens of Orthodox flavors.

[Sheilbh]

I had my first Hassid or hipster moment in Sainsbury's yesterday.  I genuinely couldn't tell if his look was from religious devotion or fashion.  It was odd

[Eddie Teach]

I doubt that is a viable path in Israel. It's just too tiny and surrounded by enemies.

Their words are backed by nuclear weapons.

[Neil]

I doubt that is a viable path in Israel. It's just too tiny and surrounded by enemies.

Their words are backed by nuclear weapons.

That they can never use.