Israel Matzav

THIS is a demonstration? (And more)

The caption says that this took place in Kikar Shabbat (Sabbath Square), but it's actually under Gesher HaMeitarim (literally the "String Bridge" - in my opinion one of the worst eyesores I have ever seen). The police used water cannons against Haredi demonstrators on Thursday. Watch what happens next.

Let's go to the videotape.



That will show them.

The Haredi demonstrations and what precipitated them was a big topic in Boston this weekend. The rabbi's entire sermon was devoted to them, as the synagogue in which I pray when I am here joined the Adopt a Kollel program (have to help some friends in Jerusalem sign up). And this evening, I went to a simulcast of a well-known Torah class from Brooklyn, New York, which also opened with some discussion of the situation of the yeshivoth in Israel.

Meanwhile, Yair Lapid is threatening to resign if thousands of Haredim are not thrown in jail.

Yesh Atid will leave the government if it does not pass legislation applying criminal sanctions to draft-dodgers from all sectors of society, party leader Yair Lapid said Saturday.

Speaking on the Channel 2 program Meet The Press, Lapid expressed confidence that his representatives on the special Knesset committee on the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft would reach agreements this week with Bayit Yehudi, which opposes criminal sanctions.

“There is a law that must obligate everyone, and everyone will have to obey it,” he said. “We will not sit in a government that will not pass the draft bill, and it must be real. I won’t accept some kind of camouflage just to stay in the government.”

Really? Then why isn't he cutting funding to the universities that also have 50% draft dodgers among their students? Hmmm.

Meanwhile, the Haredi MK's say that they'd be happy to see Tommy - I mean Yair - go. 

Hareidi MKs welcomed on Saturday night the announcement of Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who said he would quit the coalition if the new draft law did not impose criminal sanctions on hareidim who evade army service.

“We would be delighted if Lapid resigns from the government,” said MK Menachem Eliezer Moses of the United Torah Judaism party.

“We are working hard to ensure that the draft law does not pass at all and that if it does it will not include criminal sanctions. We would be happy if Lapid resigns as soon as soon possible so that we can stop the terrible damage that he has already done ​​since taking office.”

MK Meir Porush, also of United Torah Judaism, said that Lapid’s only goal is to increase the divisions in the nation and see the hareidim in jail.

"Lapid does not want hareidim in the army, he would prefer to see them in prison," said Porush, adding, “Hareidi Judaism will not remain silent over the actions of the government, which seeks to place Torah scholars in prison. Hareidi Judaism will fight and will continue to learn Torah, even if we have to go underground.”

The term I've seen used over and over again here in America - not even in Israel - is shmad.  That last link is in Hebrew - could not find a good definition in English.

Oh and at the shul luncheon, some poor innocent asked me how Naftali Bennett could have been 'fooled' into going into the government with Lapid. If only that were what happened.....

Labels: Haredim, IDF, Jewish Home party, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid party

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:14 AM