firstly, most of these are hardal, not haredim. secondly 72% feel they benefit from the army - and these are volunteers! in other words 28% feel that they volunteered for nothing. what numbers do they expect when they force them to come?

to allow haredi-only regiments, if I'm reading this right and that's what they are doing. You need only refer to 1948 to see how Ben Gurion feared having separatists maintain their own units, their own arms. The biggest worry is that these separate units would have greater loyalty to their own, rather than to the army and the society as a whole. Ben Gurion feared that they would refuse orders if they didn't agree with them. I can see history repeating itself.

Be A Bad Thing???

Yo' David, you have a lot to comment on .... from NY. As to what to expect when they "force them to come" -- guess what? There's no such thing as "forcing them to come." No one can be forced to be a soldier. Anyway, who knows what to expect? Maybe they'll join you in the Big Apple.

Every now and then there pops another promotional self congratulating PR piece with some picks of dark skinned bearded bozos that resemble everything but Haredim designed to beef up the IDF image not as much to encourage enlistment but to keep you believe that they're in control while as you know Haredi soldiers are lynched in broad day light as we speak ,...

The more haredim will go through military service and see the benefits, the more haredim in the street will change their views in a positive way

Statistics are one thing BUT Perhaps those serving Haredi soldiers could articulate their experiences and serve as roving ambassadors to their communities to reassure and inform new Haredi recruits

Haredi sector is a different stratum of the Israeli society and as such should be considered in a different prospect. The defining element in Israel' ethos is religion and haredi segment is the supreme guardian of this rich treasure. Treating them as soldiers or seculars will undermine the foundations of the nation as they are expect not to fight, but o study and devote energy to reconnect Jews and the Divine.

Bibi, Lapid and Tzipi Livni are smiling. Their plan is to use the Haredi Soldiers to expel the Jews from areas in Judea and Samaria that have Hareidim. On another note we are not Haredim, but my son is losing his desire to serve in an army whose Defense Minister votes to release terrorist who kidnapped and murdered soldiers and other innocent Jewish civilians. Why should my son risk his life to capture a terrorist if the government will release the terrorist anyway? My son joined Zahal to defend and protect Jews. He didn't join to expel Jews. We need to stop the government before it is too late. With love of Israel David Jacobs

I cannot claim to be an expert on the IDF, but I have a gut feeling that these Haredim soldiers will surprise many commentators and end up being excellent soldiers. In fact, once they are trained, I would not be surprised if many of them turned out to be pretty fierce fighters as well, if God forbid it came down to it. Just looking from the outside, I certainly hope this program succeeds.

I am a a volounteer from The US serving in The Kfir brigade which Netzah Yehuda is part of... They really serve. Its really Hard for them. But all The time i see a haredi soldier My heart starts to Pump more... Even because Its really Hard for them and they become rejected from their society for joining The IDF but. Those guys still did it.

out of the darkness of imposed and controlled ignorance into the Light (!) of Torah.

You are not reading it right, nore understanding the importance of this remarkable event, Elke... There would be nothing better for these brave boys, then staying together for the duration of training as one unit, to fulfill the requrements of IDF troopers, together...It would be quite helpful to them and to our whole Nation, showing them all of our support and encouragement, we can...I believe in all my heart, that when supported and cheered , those boys will make excellent soldgers and defenders of our Nation...It is too bad, that you only know some of the selected by you history, that fits into your agenda of spite and separation... What kind of repeated history, do you fear exactly ? Mentioning Ben Gurion on this subject, is stupid at best and is filled with contradictions and self defeat...