BICOM

Leaders of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community have announced plans for a huge demonstration against proposed legislation to reform the military draft which would mandate ultra-Orthodox seminary students to enlist or face criminal sanctions.

The proposed legislation, which passed a first Knesset reading in July, requires that all but 1,800 full-time ultra-Orthodox seminary students be required to enlist in either the IDF or civilian national service once they reach the age of 21. Last week, in a significant development, a Knesset committee headed by Jewish Home MK Ayelet Shaked approved placing criminal sanctions on ultra-Orthodox draftees who refuse to enlist. It is a measure vehemently opposed by ultra-Orthodox leaders and has also been a bone of contention between coalition partners.

Following a rare meeting between the leaders of the various ultra-Orthodox factions in Bnei Brak earlier this week, it was announced that as many as 600,000 people are expected to attend a protest rally against the proposed legislation in Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon. One of the protest organisers told Israel Hayom that it would be “short and to the point, without disorderly conduct and without violence,” mainly consisting of prayers and psalms. In a significant and unusual step, community leaders have invited women and children aged nine and above to attend the rally. Israeli Police advised the public not to drive to Jerusalem after noon on Sunday and traffic will be closed to eastbound vehicles on the country’s most significant motorway, Route 1.

Meanwhile, Ultra-Orthodox MK Meir Porush told Kol Barama radio yesterday that he is under “tremendous pressure” to call for an ultra-Orthodox boycott of goods from the West Bank, considered a bastion of religious Zionism and a stronghold of the Jewish Home party, both of which are perceived to have given strong support for the draft bill. Yesh Atid leader and Finance Minister Yair Lapid is also a target for ultra-Orthodox anger and Israel Hayom says that Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino has ordered increased protection for Lapid.