Tel-Chai Nation

Some Haredi ministers in the government are starting to support issues that're vital in a time when Israel's been struck by terrorism, and is doubtless going to face Iranian attacks soon:

The haredi public must internalize that they will need to begin committing to national service, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel (Shas) said in a podcast that was published on Thursday.

The comment was rare, as ultra-Orthodox leaders have largely refrained from taking the side of increasing haredi service since a crisis over the issue broke out in February, when the defense ministry revealed that it was planning to overcome a lack of manpower by increasing mandatory and reserve duty, and not by drafting thousands of haredi men, who have enjoyed a blanket exemption. [...]

"The reality after October 7 is that the haredi public must understand and internalize that there is no moral option to continue this way,” Arbel said on a podcast by an organization called “Hariv’on Harevi’i” [Hebrew for “The Fourth Quarter”] that was recorded weeks ago but only published on Thursday.

This is certainly impressive, coming as it does at a time when some events and school services are being put on hold because of the danger that could come from Iran now. There's only so many people in Haredi communities who could've done a lot of good for the country in many ways if they hadn't gone about pushing these isolationist beliefs that have practically led to self-haters within ultra-Orthodox clans like Satmar, and even the "Jerusalem Faction", that encouraged blocking roads and rioting. This does not improve even their societies, and only results in division.

So those Haredis who aren't serving in the military would do well to enroll now, and prove they have what it takes to contribute to the war effort to defeat Hamas, in example, and Hezbollah, and of course, Iran. Israel needs all the help it can get, and come to think of it, the time's coming when many Haredis could take part in the war that'll doubtless plague Europe soon enough too.

Labels: anti-semitism, communications, iran, islam, Israel, jihad, Knesset, military, misogyny, sexual violence, terrorism, war on terror