Lawmakers belonging to the ultra-Orthodox Shas party met with yeshiva students detained in military prison for draft dodging on Thursday, in the third such visit this month, while praising their “selfless dedication to the Torah.”

MKs Michael Malkieli and Haim Biton met with Haredim arrested “for the crime of studying Torah,” a party spokesman said in a statement, quoting the lawmakers as telling the evaders that “an entire generation rests upon your shoulders” and that their actions will be “remembered for generations.”

Some 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged between 18 and 24 are currently believed to be eligible for military service, but have not enlisted. The Israel Defense Forces has said it urgently needs 12,000 recruits due to the strain on standing and reserve forces caused by the war against Hamas in Gaza and other military challenges.

A recent wave of arrests of draft dodgers has failed to increase Haredi........

© The Times of Israel