....those who shirk their yeshiva duty as well. ....yeshiva service should also be mandatory as commanded...."you shall teach it to your children."

Once again, YNET has Hareidi bashed when it isn't true! MK Nitzan Horowitz is quoted as saying that more than 50% of today's 18 year olds do not serve in the army! Hareidi youth are not 50% of the 18 year old population. Today, a large number of secular individuals are also not serving. Personally, I think everyone should serve--Secular, Haredi and Kippah Shruga! However, if there is a protest agains draft avoidance lets make it against ALL avoidance. Let's see YNET write titles correctly. Let's not single out what segment of the population. Isn't that what the left calls being racist!

Why do we criticise youngsters for draft dodging?? The cowardly groveling backstabbing barak has turned the IDF into a political weapon. Why must soldiers evict in nazi fashion on orders from the minister of evictions barak woman and children from thier homes at night. Hope that all youngsters stay clear of this political IDF. I did army service as did my four children when we knew we protected the state of Israel in and not orders of politians.

Those who are sitting and learning Torah have my full support, dont forget we have two "armies" in our little country, if you are protesting draft dodgers then you have my full support but you might have to look a bit further than Bnei Brak, Meia Sharim and the like, how about Tel Aviv and its surroundings, Sharut Leumi is not only for "girls" come on guys do your bit for the country

I remember a general remarking that there were deaths all over the country during the War in Lebanon and how he saw the the list of those killed .He said he say a large amount from YeSha and from all around the country yet very few from Tel Aviv.Actually he said i saw many deaths from Yesha many former Soviet Immigrants ,people from poorer areas but hardly any from Tel Aviv.

Did they also march to protest the 25% of secular Israeli youth that dont serve a much larger group than the Haredim.DId they go past the Aviv Gefen House ?of course they didnt or pass the Yesh Gvul or other secular anti Israel anti Zionist organizations dont bother we know the answer HYPOCRITS !!!!!!!!

It is cowardly and shameful not to serve or defend ones homeland or family. If God himself fights for the Jews and for Zion then is it not pathetic that some people are unwilling to defend themselves and their country from those who seek their destruction? Many expect God and others to defend them but they are unwilling to defend themselves, they are disgraceful, shameless and loathsome people indeed. Even Abraham your forefather took arms to defend his family. Genesis 14, Joshua 5, Joel 3

The difference between Haredi draft dodging and individual seculars draft dodging is that the Haredim both have an organized draft dodging mechanism and also dont work and live as parasites off the rest of us. Also look at the statistics more than 95% of the haredim don't serve while in the rest of the population the actual amount that actually dodge (not excused on legitimate health grounds) is around 8%

to steal Jewish homes from Jews in Gush Katif. Serve your country YES, obey thieves who say to steal homes from Jews NO.

do those who get off on medical grounds hold drivers lisences, if the answer is yes then surely they can do their service in an office in the kiriyah or even better how about sharut leumi, what do parasites have to do with this issue

Usually its their Leftist parents who are professionals in law firms or the media. They use their connections to help get their kids out of mandatory duty, either because they believe only their kid should be given special privileges or they hate the State/military, or both. But the mechanisms are there and very real, and used with an alarming frequency. Regarding the haradim, once they leave the yeshiva to work the State goes after them for military duty. So the situation actually forces many who wish to avoid mandatory service to also not contribute to society. So your point is moot when confronted with the complexity of the situation. However, I would treat both sides equally and harshly in regards to draft dodging.

it is such a shame that israel doesn't recognize religious observance as a release from army service ... america has hundreds of different religions, and most of them have legally recognized options, such as pacifism or simply being opposed to war, to opt out of military service. you have only one religious group that wants to use religious observance as a means to opt out, and you can't even deal with it ... why are you so obsessed with them participating in your military? now that israel has given away almost half the country to the enemy, ... do you want the hareidi to protect you? or is it that you plan on putting them in the front lines to deal with your mistakes ... sacrifice them to save yourselves ... right?

long before there was an Israeli state, the haredi policy of draft-dodging was esteblished. It's rooted in a century-old theory of pacifism. Rabbi Akviva explained some 2000 yrs ago, that the way to survive is by bending your head to stronger waves than you. It would be foolish to ask people to abandon their old ways, ways that don't have nothing to do with Israel's current state of politics. the hareidim believe this is the way the jewish nation was the only one to survive waves of persecution for so many centuries.