allowed in the work force? Haredi draft dodgers are not. Otherwise they would go out and work and pay taxes too. In Tel Aviv ,it is well known that 50% of the secular youth are draft dodgers,thus not as you state, SOME draft dodgers.

maybe they will realize that you can't start a civil war with the army.

The Mashgiach of a major Lithuanian yeshivah put it this way -- the only thing worse than a boy who left yeshivah and should have stayed is a boy who stayed but should have left. Yeshivah students are not a caste. They are individuals who have the talent to cope with the heavy timetable of traditional Torah learning. There are many Haredi youth who belong in the IDF or civil service and most Haredim understand this. With sensitivity this issue can be resolved without a kulturkampf.

It's good to see that Ohad Shaked is a Haredi history and civics teacher. These are subjects Haredim may need more of. I'm a Haredi history and English teacher. If Shaked is from Kissufim we may be cousins by marriage!

I think that the author didn't mention is very simple. Haredim truly believe that intensive Torah learning is the key to our miraculous survival in the Middle East. There are numerous sources in Torah literature to that effect. Some disagree with the interpretation of those sources (Dati Leumi), while some deny it's relevancy to modern times (Secular). But the Haredim really believe it. They believe that if not for their learning, we would have lost 1967 and 1973, that Osirik would still be around, that all the hostages in Entebbe would have died. Call it crazy but they believe that they have the secret weapon, and the rest of Israel just doesn't know it. If YOU believed that, would you give in so easily? Wouldn't your conscience compel you to resist to the end. BTW - By "civil war" the author means passive resistance, the Haredi community typically uses exaggerated rhetoric to make their points. For example, Haredi politicians speak of not compromising and "escorting our sons with drums and a band to [military] Prison Six. Will be bring them their tefilin and his food…"