Haredim threaten soldiers, pelt police with rocks and eggs

Dozens of men in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim surrounded three soldiers who came to pray in a synagogue on Wednesday evening.

The three uniformed IDF soldiers were in the Shteiblach synagogue complex in the heart of the neighborhood when a crowd gathered outside and refused to let them out, taunting them with abusive chants.

Police were called to extract the three, but as they arrived they were pelted with rocks, eggs and other items, according to a police report.

Eventually the soldiers were removed without injury.

The rescue put extra strain on police on a night when hundreds of officers were already deployed in East Jerusalem, Jerusalem’s Old City and around the Temple Mount to ensure peace and order on Laylat al-Qadr, one of the holiest nights of the Muslim month-long fast of Ramadan.

In recent weeks, Mea Shearim has seen multiple attacks — both verbal and physical — against uniformed IDF soldiers by extremists members of the ultra-Orthodox community.

In light of those assaults, the army has offered ultra-Orthodox servicemen special permits that allow them to leave base in civilian attire so they can walk through their neighborhoods unmolested. (Arab soldiers are offered similar permits for the same reason.)

The assaults, threats and violent protests by members of the community generally 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 across the political spectrum (though conspicuously not from Haredi lawmakers).

Judah Ari Gross contributed to this report.