Fake bomb sent to officer in charge of ultra-Orthodox draft

Police were investigating on Tuesday a threat against the IDF officer in charge of ultra-Orthodox conscription, after he was mailed a fake letter bomb at his home with the word “Revenge” written on it.

The suspicious envelope, which had wires protruding from it, was sent to the Ramat Bet Shemesh home of Maj. Yaakov Rashi, head of the IDF’s Yeshiva Students Department, on Monday. His wife called the police and sappers were sent to the house to handle the package, determining there was no danger.

Rashi has received threats in the past, but police characterized the latest incident as a grave escalation and said they would investigate.

The military said in a statement, “Such acts will not deter us or dissuade us from drafting enlistment candidates, in accordance with Israeli law.”

Recent months have seen an uptick in violence by extremist elements in the ultra-Orthodox community that vehemently oppose the draft.

The Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim has seen multiple attacks — both verbal and physical — against uniformed IDF soldiers by extremists members of the community.

The assaults, threats and violent protests stem from opposition to participating in the conscripted military service Israeli citizens are required to complete.

The attacks have drawn denunciation from military officials, the police and politicians.

Some segments of ultra-Orthodox society refuse to recognize the State of Israel and oppose Zionism, because of their belief that the establishment of a Jewish state should only come after the arrival of the messiah. Most ultra-Orthodox Jews do not serve in the Israeli army.