12 ultra-Orthodox men detained after attacking cops dressed as IDF soldiers

Twelve ultra-Orthodox residents of the Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem were arrested on Friday afternoon for allegedly attacking undercover policemen wearing IDF uniforms.

The incident occurred after police deliberately deployed detectives to the neighborhood dressed in military uniforms, in light of ongoing violence towards members of the military by some in the community.

The suspects attacked the officers, throwing objects at them and beating them. According to Army Radio, they were arrested by police.

During the arrests, other ultra-Orthodox men gathered around the officers and threw stones at them. They were dispersed by law enforcement agents. The detainees were taken in for questioning.

Earlier this week, a poster instructing ultra-Orthodox draftees to kill female soldiers and IDF commanders was found on a wall in Mea Shearim amid ongoing protests by extremist members of the community against Israel’s draft.

The anonymous notice, which was headlined “religious ruling,” said any ultra-Orthodox young man who is drafted “by force to the anti-Jewish army” must “take the rifle you were given” and kill IDF troops.

“Kill the next female soldier who is in your reach and thereby give her the privilege of [fulfilling the commandment to] ‘die before violating’ [the alleged prohibition of military service]. Kill every commander that holds you by force. Kill every conscript, tempter and helper,” the poster read.

It also encouraged ultra-Orthodox teenagers to commit suicide rather than be drafted, equating military service with the three cardinal sins that Judaism insists one avoid even on pain of death: idolatry, forbidden sexual relations and murder.

Police have launched an investigation into the matter.

In response to the notice, an IDF spokesperson on Thursday said it crossed “a red line” and vowed that the army would continue to enlist anyone required by law to serve.

“The IDF will continue to carry out its commitment to the security of the State of Israel and its citizens and will continue to work to draft all those required to enlist.”

The notice was found just after posters were put up in the predominantly ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak on Tuesday offering ultra-Orthodox children cash prizes if they are arrested or hurt while accosting religious soldiers and policemen.

The posters, which were mockingly titled “real bravery against children” and included photos of a religious police officer arresting an ultra-Orthodox child, implore kids to yell at ultra-Orthodox soldiers and police “Hardakim out” — a derogatory term for ultra-Orthodox soldiers which is a pun on two Hebrew words for “insect” and “germ.”

Alexander Fulbright contributed to this report.