JERUSALEM, March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tens of
thousands of Orthodox Jews gathered yesterday (Tuesday) to protest
Israel's Military Draft Law,
resulting in the forced enlistment of many Orthodox Jews. The
protestors also decried Israel's
brutal tactics to crack down peaceful protestors.
The demonstration was organized by the Edah HaChareidis – a
Rabbinic umbrella association representing hundreds of Orthodox
Jewish congregations with a combined membership of over 250,000.
During the protest, leading Rabbis sharply attacked Israel's conscription policy, passed in 2014,
curtailing a 60 year old policy exempting all Yeshiva students from
military service. Since then, many who refused to enlist were
incarcerated for weeks and even months under brutal conditions.
Those who peacefully protest those policies are subject to harsh
punishments as well.
For instance, a father of seven, Rabbi Binyumin Friedman was recently incarcerated for
peacefully protesting the draft. He was denied bail and is now
scheduled to remain detained until the completion of his trial,
which can take many months.
"The Israeli Army is an irreligious entity, and it is impossible
for Orthodox Jews to fully practice their religion while in the
army. We cannot serve in the army; because, the Torah prohibits us
to create a state before the coming of Messiah… because, the Torah
prohibits us to wage war against any sovereign nation!" declared
Rabbi Issac Mark, the
intergovernmental liaison for the Edah HaChareidis.
Forcing Orthodox Jews to serve in the army against their
religious convictions violates Resolution 1989/59, passed by the UN
Commission on Human Rights on March 8,
1988, Rabbi M. Weiss said.
The resolution: "Recognizes the right of everyone to have
conscientious objections to military service as a legitimate
exercise of the right of freedom of thought, conscience and
religion as laid down in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights."
At the conclusion of the demonstration, organizers declared that
they will continue protesting until all confined in prison are
released and while the current evil draft policy remains in place.
The E.H. is determined to continue and ramp up the campaign to
awaken the international community to Israel's suppression of the religious freedoms
of its Orthodox Jewish citizens.
Contact Rabbi Menachem
Porgez
011-972504181329
crcusa@thejnet.com
Photo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/483713/Draft_Protest_Edah_HaChareidis.jpg
Video -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/483714/haredim_hf2803.mp4