IDF prepares material for indictments on assaults of haredi soldiers
Military prosecution assembles cases of haredi soldiers spat on, prohibited from prayer, car tires' slashed in their own neighborhoods; 'Zero tolerance must be effected,' says officer
The IDF Advocate General is assembling dozens of cases of violence, incitement and assault targetting haredi soldiers due to their military service, with the purpose of filing indictments against the radical elements in the haredi sector behind them.
Violence against haredi soldiers has recently seen a marked rise, possibly due to the public dispute over the draft reform, set to conscript the previously largely exempt haredi sector.
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In light of this, the IDF called on soldiers to promptly report such offenses to the police and their commanding officers. "Zero tolerance must be effected," a high-ranking officer in the IDF told Ynet.
"We have heard of incidents in which soldiers were prevented from attending their synagogue, soldiers spat on during prayer in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem, knocks on doors of soldiers' wives and warnings against walking in their neighborhood, as well as threatening notices pinned on doorways."
Some of the testimonies amassed by the IDF report incidents in which stones were thrown at soldiers in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak and the car tires of haredi soldiers were slashed.
In Haifa, a Hasidic soldier was prohibited by fellow sect members from attending the synagogue in which he has been praying for years.
"These are outrageous incidents which even include the removal of haredi soldiers' children from kindergartens and day cares," the officer added.
While trying to combat the phenomenon, the IDF is reluctant to exempt haredi soldiers who wish to keep their service a secret from wearing uniforms on public transportation.
"There's no reason haredi soldiers will not wear their uniforms proudly even in the haredi neighborhoods," the officer explained.
"We'll act accordingly to increase the level of our retaliation against the phenomena of incitement and violence."
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