Coalition blocks protection for Haredi soldiers as anti-draft rhetoric intensifies |
The coalition voted down a bill to protect Haredi soldiers from violence and incitement on Wednesday, amid a surge of extremist rhetoric and attacks linked to the ongoing battle over the proposed draft law.
The legislation, submitted by Blue and White MK Alon Schuster, sought to criminalize harassment and threats against ultra-Orthodox men who enlist in the army. It was defeated by a vote of 49 to 24.
The vote followed an incident on Sunday evening in Bnei Brak in which extremist Haredi protesters broke into a conference for parents of recruits to the newly formed Haredi Hasmonean Brigade, violently disrupting the gathering and attacking attendees.
While the defense establishment and opposition figures condemned the attack, very little was heard from members of government and no senior Haredi rabbinic or political leaders publicly denounced the violence, nor have any arrests been made.
The silence from Haredi leadership has drawn growing scrutiny as protests against the draft intensify,........