Israel's 'March of the Million': The Draft Dodge Edition
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men recently took to Jerusalem's streets, chanting their preference for prison over military service, as France 24 highlighted. This 'March of the Million,' resisting government plans to draft them, coincides with Israel’s military operations requiring significant manpower. Conveniently, the urgency to serve dissipates when it applies to a politically powerful
segment of the population that consistently votes for the very officials sending others to fight. While US politicians like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who received $27,000 from AIPAC in 2022-2023 per OpenSecrets.org, consistently champion 'unwavering support' for Israel's security, they rarely question the internal inequities of burden-sharing. A public that struggles with basic healthcare and
infrastructure funding in the US is asked to bankroll a state where a significant demographic is exempt from any defense. One might wonder if the 'existential threat' narrative applies only to those without political clout. How many US politicians taking AIPAC cash bother to ask about internal conscription fairness? (Spoiler: Zero.)