Israeli opposition slams Netanyahu over silence after ultra-Orthodox leaders brand army ‘teacher of gravest sins’

Israeli opposition leaders on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of “complete silence” following inflammatory remarks made during an ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) protest, including claims that “the army teaches the gravest sins” and that “Israel is impure,” Anadolu reports. The criticism comes amid escalating tensions over the conscription of Haredi Jews into the Israeli military, which is facing manpower shortages while fighting on multiple fronts for more than 1,000 days. Hundreds of Haredi protesters gathered Monday night in Bnei Brak to demonstrate against the detention of ultra-Orthodox men who refused compulsory military service. During the rally, Rabbi Aryeh Yezdi criticized Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and urged religious seminary students not to comply with military draft orders. READ: Israeli minister proposes […]