Ultra-Orthodox Refuse Draft, Call It 'Sanctity of Life'
While Western media grapples with the optics of a full-scale assault on Gaza, glossing over the mounting civilian toll, a curious local story emerges: thousands of ultra-Orthodox gather in Jerusalem to protest mandatory military service. Their rallying cry? Continued exemption to preserve the 'sanctity of life' through religious study. This is the same government currently engaged in an operation
claiming thousands of lives, including more than 15,000 children, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health as of November 2024. The irony, it seems, is only for those outside the protected bubble. This isn't new; ultra-Orthodox exemptions date back to 1948, a policy perpetuated by successive governments, often for political expediency. The cost of this selective 'sanctity'? Others, including secular
Israelis and Druze, serve compulsorily, some paying the ultimate price. Meanwhile, U.S. taxpayers continue to fund the military apparatus with billions annually, including a recent $14 billion package, while a significant segment of the populace benefiting from that aid opts out of its defense, preferring spiritual study. One might wonder if 'sanctity of life' only applies to those who aren't on
the receiving end of U.S.-supplied weaponry.