Ultra-Orthodox hold mass Jerusalem protest against forced recruitment

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews participated in a mass rally on Monday morning in Jerusalem’s Shabbat Square.

In a display of mourning, protesters donned burial sacks and smeared ash on their heads to show their disapproval of anticipated changes to IDF deferment and exemption practices. The Knesset’s Plesner committee, which has been charged with proposing an alternative to the now-defunct Tal Law — struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year — is nearing the end of its deliberations.

In a further public show of mourning, the demonstrators read verses from the biblical book of Psalms as well as penitential prayers, similar to those read in times when observant Jews traditionally ask forgiveness for transgressions.

The Tal Law had allowed ultra-Orthodox army-aged men to defer their enlistment in the military for the purpose of religious study. The law served as a virtual exemption from service since by the time the deferment period ran out, at age 23, most men who had deferred their military service were either married or engaged in further yeshiva study, and therefore un-recruitable by Israeli law.

According to a Channel 10 report, the Plesner committee is not planning on recommending forced recruitment. Instead, the officially titled “Committee for the advancement of inclusion in service and equality in sharing the burden” will likely recommend severe economic sanctions on ultra-Orthodox individuals who do not perform military or national service.

The demonstration opened with a public morning prayer service, and unlike most ultra-Orthodox demonstrations, included women and children.

One of the protesters told Israel Radio that the state had better prepare thousands of prison cells for ultra-Orthodox men, as they will not compromise and would sooner go to jail than serve in the military.

Asher Zeiger contributed to this report.