Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Friday, January 10, 2025

Senior IDF officer overseeing Haredi draft attacked in Bnei Brak; 3 arrested

By Emanuel Fabian 10 January 2025, 8:30 am 5 Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

A mob of ultra-Orthodox men attack Maj. Gen. David Zini, the IDF officer tasked with overseeing the Haredi draft, in Bnei Brak, January 9, 2025. (Screenshot, X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
A mob of ultra-Orthodox men attack Maj. Gen. David Zini, the IDF officer tasked with overseeing the Haredi draft, in Bnei Brak, January 9, 2025. (Screenshot, X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

A senior IDF officer responsible for advancing the draft of Haredi soldiers to the military was attacked by a mob of ultra-Orthodox men in Bnei Brak last night.

Maj. Gen. David Zini, head of the Training Command and General Staff Corps, and the “project manager” of drafting Haredi soldiers, was eating at a restaurant in Bnei Brak with one of his aides, an officer with the rank of major.

Dozens of Haredi men surrounded the two officers, shouting “murderer,” while chasing them through the streets of the central city.

Police say that three suspects were arrested, and the two officers were rescued from the crowd.

The three suspects, aged 29, 24, and 19, will be brought to court later today.

Zini was attacked by a Haredi mob in Bnei Brak in July as well.

The attacks come as the IDF is working to draft more Haredi soldiers to the military, as it suffers personnel shortages amid the war, and following a High Court ruling stating that there is no longer any legal framework allowing the state to refrain from drafting yeshiva students into military service.

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