Minister: Unlike Israeli ultra-Orthodox, Haredim who make aliyah serve in the army

While Israeli Haredim refuse to serve in the army, ultra-Orthodox men who move to Israel do enlist, Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer tells The Times of Israel, at a march in Jerusalem demanding universal enlistment.

“I am here to support one of the most important moves that we need to make in this time,” Sofer says.

The rally takes place during a time of deep social and political crisis, as the ultra-Orthodox community refuses to relinquish the blanket military exemptions its young men have received for decades.

Asked what the government is planning on doing, Sofer says that “we need to find a way to increase the number of soldiers and especially combat soldiers.”

Sofer is a member of the Religious Zionism party, a group that aspires to represent the values of the national religious community in Israel, which tends to be disproportionately present in combat units, and many in the community also devote time to Torah studies.

In June, the High Court of Justice ruled that the exemptions could no longer be extended to Haredi youth studying in yeshiva and that the IDF must begin drafting Haredi 18-year-olds. However, ultra-Orthodox parties — key members of the governing coalition — have resisted any compromise to implement the ruling. The government has shown little political will to solve the issue.

Most of those who attend the march in Jerusalem sport knitted kippahs and colorful head coverings that are typically worn by national religious community members.

“I am here first of all to stand with our people, especially with the bereaved families,” Sofer says.

He acknowledges that Haredim abroad have a very different approach to the issue.

“Those who make aliyah do enlist,” he says. “It’s a different type of Haredim.”

“I believe that we can find a solution to the problem, and we will,” he adds.