Latest news with #Haredim
Wall Street Journal
7 days ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
The Ultra-Orthodox Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces
Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer argues in 'Haredim Are in the Israeli Army Now' (Houses of Worship, Aug. 1) that the four ultra-Orthodox soldiers recently killed in a Hamas ambush are the forerunners of the 'thousands of young Haredi men' who will join the Israel Defense Forces 'with pride.' This is a fantasy. Haredi leaders are united in their rejection of army service and show no signs of changing their attitudes. The Haredim remain on a collision course with the majority of Israeli society, who resent the Haredi refusal to support the nation in times of war. Paul Shaviv
Mint
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Netanyahu government in Israel loses majority as key coalition partner quits over military draft issue
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government lost its majority on Wednesday when the ultra-Orthodox Shas party quit the coalition, following United Torah Judaism's departure earlier this week. With 11 seats withdrawn, Netanyahu now controls just 61 of 120 Knesset seats, leaving him vulnerable to no-confidence votes. Shas cited "persecution against Torah students" for resigning, protesting Netanyahu's failure to pass a law exempting their religious constituents from mandatory military service. Though Shas pledged not to actively "undermine" the coalition, its exit paralyzes legislative efforts and risks triggering early elections. The collapse stems from Israel's explosive debate over military conscription. Ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim), who make up 13% of Israel's population, have historically been exempt from service to pursue religious studies, a practice ruled discriminatory by Israel's Supreme Court in 2024. With over 450 soldiers killed in Gaza and troop shortages mounting, public anger over the exemptions surged. When Netanyahu's coalition failed to codify new exemptions by July 15, Shas and UTJ's spiritual leaders ordered their lawmakers to resign, calling draft orders an attack on their faith.
Al Mayadeen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Netanyahu deflects blame as Gaza war drags with no clear military goal
The Israeli newspaper Maariv has acknowledged that the Israeli occupation forces are 'bogged down' in Gaza without a defined goal, while military leadership reportedly avoids confronting the political echelon with the harsh realities of the war. According to Maariv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu absolved himself of responsibility for the failures of October 7 during a US media interview, instead shifting blame onto the Israeli occupation forces and intelligence community. The paper described this move as a dangerous red line crossed by the current Israeli government. The article further warned that the controversial conscription law is expected to pass, threatening to deepen social divisions within Israeli society. One segment, those affiliated with religious schools and communities in Bnei Brak, Elad, Mea Shearim, Safad, and Tiberias, will remain exempt and protected, while the rest of the population will be sent to fight in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, Khan Younis, Nablus, Jenin, and even in Lebanon and Syria. Maariv noted with irony that the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim), who are widely exempt from service yet receive broad support, have now become the "new heroes of Israel." The report acknowledged that 893 Israeli soldiers have been killed so far in what it described as an endless war with no longer any declared objective. It cited voices within the occupation forces calling for a ceasefire and the release of approximately 50 captives, recognizing that the military campaign had failed to achieve a decisive blow against Hamas and that the issue has now shifted into the political realm. The grim assessment followed the incident on Monday in which a tank from the 401st Armored Brigade was struck during an operation in Jabalia, northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers: Sergeant Shahem Menachem, Corporal Shlomo Yakir Sharam, and Corporal Yuli Faktor. A fourth soldier was critically wounded. Despite the Merkava 4 tank being considered one of the most advanced and fortified in the world, the cause of the damage, whether it was a missile or an underground explosive, remained undetermined as of Tuesday morning, the paper reported. In a similar tone, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that despite repeated claims by Israeli officials that Hamas is nearing defeat, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. 'Hamas has not collapsed,' the outlet stated, noting that talk of its imminent surrender remains unsubstantiated. Maariv previously conceded that the transformative goals behind the Israeli operation Operation Gideon's Chariots in Gaza remain far from being realized. Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and former Israeli security minister, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of deliberately extending the war in Gaza to satisfy far-right members of his cabinet. Lieberman stated that Netanyahu is trying to appease Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir by continuing the aggression on the besieged Strip despite growing military consensus that the war has achieved its strategic goals. 'As long as the Chief of Staff says the operation in Gaza has fulfilled its objectives, what are we still doing there?' Lieberman asked. His remarks follow a statement made earlier by Israeli occupation forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who indicated that the war objectives in Gaza had been exhausted, signaling a potential shift in military posture. The growing divide between political and military leadership has added further strain to the Israeli war cabinet, where far-right influence continues to shape key decisions despite opposition from within the establishment. Meanwhile, tensions within Netanyahu's government escalated after IOF Chief Halevi warned that expanding military operations in Gaza could jeopardize the lives of Israeli captives still held in the Strip. His caution triggered a wave of backlash from far-right ministers, including Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who have long rejected any constraints on the army's actions in Gaza. A senior Palestinian official speaking to Al Mayadeen revealed that the issue of Israeli withdrawal continues to stall progress in the Doha negotiations. 'The withdrawal point is still unresolved, and it is directly linked to the aid mechanism, and vice versa,' the official said. On the diplomatic front, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-hour overnight meeting with the Qatari delegation at the White House to advance discussions on a Gaza ceasefire. The talks follow a second meeting in 24 hours between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu.
Roya News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Ultra-Orthodox party quits Netanyahu coalition over draft law dispute
The ultra-Orthodox 'Israeli' party Degel HaTorah announced Monday its immediate withdrawal from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, protesting the government's failure to pass a law exempting Haredi Jews from military service. The move came after a rare handwritten letter from the party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Dov Landau, calling on representatives to resign from all government roles and leave the coalition. In the letter, Rabbi Landau accused Netanyahu's Likud party of breaking its promise to pass a draft exemption bill and warned that authorities were trying to 'humiliate and crush Torah students.' Degel HaTorah holds four Knesset seats and is part of the United Torah Judaism alliance with Agudat Yisrael (three seats), both of which back Netanyahu. The government still holds a majority with 68 seats, but it could fall if the 11-seat Shas party, also Haredi, follows through on its reported threat to leave. The crisis comes amid mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox factions following a June 25 'Israeli' Supreme Court ruling that mandates drafting Haredim and cuts funding to religious institutions that don't comply. Top rabbis, whose guidance is considered binding within Haredi communities, have called on students to reject enlistment and even destroy draft orders. Haredim—about 13 percent of 'Israel's' population—have historically avoided military service, citing religious study as their national duty. In response to the backlash, Netanyahu reportedly met with Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chair Yuli Edelstein to finalize a draft exemption bill. Some media reports say a version acceptable to Haredi leadership may be presented soon, potentially reversing Degel HaTorah's withdrawal.
Al Bawaba
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Haredi draft law crisis threatens to cripple Netanyahu's coalition
ALBAWABA - The ultra-Orthodox military draft law is causing a political standoff that could end Israel's coalition government. Haredi parties are giving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government strict deadlines to meet. Kan, an Israeli news station, says that the current problem was started by Aryeh Deri, the head of the Shas party. This has already pushed back Netanyahu's planned trip abroad. Deri asked for a draft law on the forced service of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) to be shown right away and warned that if it wasn't, his party and its partners would fight any law supported by the government. In response, Netanyahu talked to Yuli Edelstein, who is the head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset. Edelstein promised that a draft of the bill would be ready in two days. Edelstein agreed to show Ariel Atias, a prominent member of Shas, the draft, but he made it clear that this version is not the final one and that the whole law would be sent in later. Edelstein said, "The crisis can't be solved without the final draft." "We won't put up with any more delays," a top Haredi official told Kan. The group will not be able to work if the law is not given by Monday. The threat includes not voting in Knesset on any bills, which is a big change from their earlier strategy of only rejecting certain laws. Yair Lapid, the head of the opposition, spoke out against the move and said Edelstein was wrong to share the draft with Haredi leaders before talking to Israel's troops and reservists. "This is the whole point of avoiding the draft," Lapid said. Opposition members also said Edelstein hid what the law said and skipped over committee meetings. At the same time, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi went to the ultra-Orthodox Hashmonaim training base to praise those who serve and stress that military service is acceptable with Haredi life. The rising tension shows how deeply divided the partnership is and makes people worry about how stable Netanyahu's government's legislation will be in the future.
