To be read as a direct continuation of Part 1; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2023/06/its-such-shame-there-wasnt-2023.html
Although not unique. Amongst the Eurovision community Israel is unusual in that it has Compulsory Military Service. It's certainly unique in that it's more likely than not Israel's conscripts will see combat during their military service. Or, at least, file important paperwork on behalf of troops who are seeing combat (Kobi Marimi, 2019).
So in researching Eurovision entries ahead of the contest I always keep an eye out for where the Israeli performer did their military service. Sometimes it can be highly significant. Other times it can be about as useful as pointing out that they have parents and they went to school.
Noa Kirel's (נועה קירל) military service is one of the more interesting examples.
Noa Kirel's music career began back in 2015 when she was 14 years old. Appearing on the TV show; "Pushers." A documentary covering her attempts break into the music industry with the help of her mother. Although I can't say I've seen either show its sounds comparable to something like the US TV Show; "Dance Moms." Her first single; "Talking (מדברים)" was released as a result of the show.
This meant that by the time Noa Kirel came of age to perform her compulsory military service she was already a well established popstar. Close to or at the peak of her career. So had 18 singles and two albums to her name. Along with having been a host and judge/mentor on various X-Factor style singing/talent shows.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) approach to solving the problem of Noa Kirel doing her compulsory military service without interrupting her career was rather novel. The IDF just let Noa Kirel's career as a popstar continue, only with the IDF serving as her manager/booking agent. So rather than performing concerts for fans who'd brought tickets Noa Kirel found herself performing a lot of free concerts to entertain her fellow members of the IDF. Receiving only her military pay.
Of course that was after Noa Kirel had completed her 6-8 months of basic training and weapons handling while being screamed at by an Israeli drill sergeant. Meaning that if things ever got really bad then the IDF could stick a rifle in her hand and leave her to competently guard a checkpoint somewhere. While all of the actual soldiers were off fighting.
This is an issue which Israel shares with the Republic of Korea (RoK/South). In June 2022 the biggest K-Pop and one of the biggest bands in the World, Bulletproof Boy Scouts/Bangtan Sonyeondan (방탄소년단) BTS announced they were going on hiatus until 2025. In order to allow the band members to complete their compulsory military service. Kim Seokjin (김석진) "Jin (진)" and Jong Hoseok (정호석) "j-hope" have already begun their military service.
It's become a bit of a habit with Israel's Eurovision entries in recent years. To try and use the shared experience of popstars doing to compulsory military service to try to entice the technological power house of South Korea into joining the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
For example in 2021 Israel was represented by Eden Alene (עדן אלנה/ኤደን አለነ). Who seems to have spent most of her time in the military serving as a contestant on the 2020 season of the Israeli version of; "X-Factor."
At the Eurovision level that was a reference to the difficulties of getting established popstars to compete. With many of them seeming to view the Song Contest as an unpleasant thing they have to do in service of their country.
Although most Israelis do serve in the military they do have the option of spending that time doing civilian service, National Service (שירות לאומי). Something which many religious women choose to do.
Israelis also have the option of serving in the civilian police. Along within the Border Police (מִשְׁמַר הַגְּבוּ). Sometimes referred to as the; "Combat Police" this is a paramilitary police force similar to the Gendarmerie in France or the Carabinieri in Italy. Not that the Gendarmerie or the Carabinieri have seen anything like the same level of combat in a very long time. The Border Police is a popular option for non-Jewish Israelis such as the Druze community as it's not seen as a full part of the Israeli military.
Again I can't pretend I've watched the 2020 season of Israeli X-Factor. However I suspect that Eden Alene competing in it as part of her compulsory military service was part of a discussion within Israel. About how much sacrifice is required to be considered as having served your country.
Eden Alene was also another attempt to reach out to the technological power house of South Korea. Showing them how it would be worth their while joining the EBU.
Specifically it's a reference to the 2017 South Korean TV Show; "The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project (아이돌 리부팅 프로젝트 더 유닛)." Rather like the X-Factor this set out to create two new K-Pop bands, a boyband and a girlband. Airing as South Korea prepared to host the 2018 Winter Olympics/Para-Olympics its title is a play on the US TV Show; "The Unit" which ran from 2006 to 2009. Making a commentary on how tough the K-Pop industry can be. Likening it to selection for military Special Operations Forces (SOF).
The US TV Show "The Unit" did an episode about my relationship with my Israeli ex-girlfriend. 2007's "Two Coins." This sees the team deployed to Israel where one of the members falls in love with a female member of the IDF. Their relationship plays out against the backdrop of a horrific suicide bomb plot. They never did get to solve the mystery of; "Penetration in Depth."
Both Eden Alene and Noa Kirel served in the IDF's Education and Youth Corp (חיל החינוך והנוער). This is also the command structure which oversees the; "Centre For Advancement of Special Population Groups (המרכז לקידום קבוצות אוכלוסייה מיוחדות)." Commonly referred to by the acronym; "MAK'AM."
The Mak'am unit is something which is rather unique to the IDF. It deals with the sort of recruits that a volunteer military wouldn't bother with. People with what are broadly termed; "Adaptation Problems." Things like a history of crime, drug use, emotional and behavioural problems. The Culture branch (ענף תרבות) of the corp deals with the delicate artistic types you get at Eurovision. Who are often of only limited use to the military.
Back on May 10th (10/5/23), around the time the Song Contest would normally take place, there was a bit of a strange incident. A female veteran of the Border Police disguised herself and ran at an IDF checkpoint brandishing a gun. This forced the soldiers guarding the checkpoint to open fire and kill her. A sort of elaborate; "Suicide-by-Cop."
Although I don't think it was ever explicitly stated. Reading between the lines the woman, Livnat Green (ליבנת ירוק) sounds like the sort of person who would have done their basic training in the Mak'am unit. Her father died when she was young and her mother suffered significant mental health problems requiring multiple hospitalisations. Livnat also suffered with similar mental health problems having been hospitalised on several occasions after suicide and self-harm attempts.
On one level the idea behind the Mak'am unit is very compassionate. If you are rehabilitating people to the point they can function as members of the Israeli military. Then you are also rehabilitating them to, and probably beyond, the point they can function as members of wider Israeli society. Which, in theory, should give them a much better quality of life.
It's important not to underestimate that element. Given Israel's extremely delicate left-wing sensibilities. When it comes to other Jews.
However the main motivation behind the Mak'am unit is to overcome a moral hazard. When you reward someone for doing a bad thing. Encouraging them and others to continue doing the bad thing.
If a criminal record and drug use prevent you from serving in the military. Then people will just start committing petty crimes and taking drugs as a way to avoid being recruited into the military. Apparently.
On something of a related note. If you want to get out of Jury Duty in the UK then just get convicted of a small crime. It means that in the eyes of the law you are no longer considered; "A Reasonable Person" and are therefore unable to sit on a Jury.
It is one of life's little ironies that due to my excellence in putting the broken things back together I almost hold the honorary rank of Segen in the Mak'am unit. While my Israeli ex-girlfriend was trying really hard to avoid the Mak'am route into the Border Police.
If the 2023 Song Contest had gone ahead. If anyone had wanted to stay on the safe ground of the 2021 conclusions and 2022 consensus on Miley Cyrus. In 2021 Noa Kirel, along with Omer Adam (עומר אדם), did a remix version of the Israeli National Anthem; "The Hope (הַתִּקְוָה)."
It was so terrible that it led to Noa Kirel being declared an embarrassment to her entire nation.
At around 17:30 on 24/7/23 (UK date) I'll try and pick this up tomorrow. Or certainly on Wednesday.
Edited at around 17:10 on 26/7/23 (UK date) to quickly copy & paste;
Of course there is one large section of Israeli society which doesn't perform its compulsory military service.
Haredi
men are allowed to repeatedly defer and therefore avoid their military
service. For as long as they are studying the Torah and Jewish
philosophy at a recognised religious school, a Yeshiva (ישיבה). A concept known
as; "Torah Study Is His Job (Torato Umanuto/תורתו אומנותו)." Effectively turning it into a reserved profession like the police service or medicine.
This is different from something like taking a Psychology class at some random Community College in the UK. In order to prove to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that you are in full time education when you want to get your Israeli passport renewed. For example.
This type of religious study is something Haredi men actually want to do. Even if they're not planning on becoming a Rabbi themselves. Studying obscure texts like the Book of Enoch to find every interpretation and implication. In order to get so far into Judaism that they can decide whether they agree more with Rabbi Akiva (רבי עקיבא) or one his disciples like Shimon bar Yochai (שמעון בן יוחאי).
So while everyone else in Israel has to put their lives on hold for two years. In order to serve in the military, running a real risk of being shot, stabbed or blown up. Haredi men get to live their best lives. The Israeli government even pays Haredi men a stipend to study at Yeshivas. Around 1,000 New Israeli Shekels (US$270) a month. Whereas conscripts in the IDF get paid around NIS400 (US$110).
All of which makes Haredi men about as popular within Israeli society as you can imagine.
If my ex-girlfriend is now living back in Israel. Then I genuinely think she'd prefer it if I was telling you all every graphic detail of our sex life. Rather than reminding everyone that she avoided her military service.
I like to think that one thing which makes the tensions between the Haredi and those who serve in the military worse is the seemingly utter lawlessness of the Haredi Settlers. More often than not these days it seems the IDF is being asked to risk life and limb to bring to an end to conflicts that Haredi Settlers have started.
A prime example would be the violence which took place around the time of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. What became Operation: Guardians of the Walls.
At
the time the big thing happening in Israel was the Court cases
surrounding and eventual eviction of Arab families from Jerusalem's
Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. All overseen by Itamar Ben-Gvir (אִיתָמָר בֶּן גְּבִיר), waggling
his little pistol about. Demanding the police; "Kill Arabs!"
This all happened against the backdrop of the holy month of Ramadan in which Muslims fast during daylight hours then break their fast at sunset. What Arabs living in Jerusalem like to do after breaking their fast is to hang out and socialise of an evening. Particularly on Sultan Sulayman Street leading to the Damascus Gate.
Whipped up into a fervour over their successful eviction of Arabs from Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. A group of Haredi Settlers took it upon themselves to run riot, attacking Arabs as they celebrated Ramadan in the Damascus Gate area. Having come under attack the Arabs then also ran riot. Pretty soon what is considered the interior of Israel under the 1967 Two-State Solution was ablaze with inter-communal violence.
With Arabs coming under attack as the interior of Israel became engulfed in violence. Eventually the Palestinian militants groups had to get involved. Particularly by firing rockets into Israel from Gaza. With Israel now coming under attack from Palestine the IDF had to mobilise to put a stop to it all. While also trying to restore order within Israel.
I can't say that I agree with the eviction of Arabs from Sheikh Jarrah. The Israeli Eurovision delegation certainly didn't. A Jew from the Katamon neighbourhood of Jerusalem Eden Alene was complaining about it at the very top of her voice.
However the evictions were done within the confines of a formal legal structure. With arguments being presented before Courts and appeals being heard. The evictions themselves were then carried out by Officers of the Court. The violence which surrounded it though was utterly chaotic and somewhat terrifying. Although it was nowhere near on the same scale. In its nature it resembled the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. With neighbour suddenly just turning on neighbour.
Obviously their failure to make any sacrifice in service of their country, even to defend it from conflicts they have caused. That is a big source of the tension between the Haredi community and wider Israeli society. However Israel's extremely delicate left-wing sensibilities are also alarmed that the failure to complete military service is causing the Haredi community to be further excluded from and left behind by Israeli society.
It's not inappropriate to compare military service in Israel to attending High School in a comparable Western, Eurovision country. It is a rite-of-passage which almost everyone goes through. It's the shared experience over which strangers can find common ground in any conversation.
Officially the conscription window for men in Israel is 18 years old through to 40 years old. However like most modern militaries the IDF isn't particularly interested in people over the age of 25. Their bodies are already starting to slow down and it's too much trouble trying to train the bad habits out of them. Compared to starting with a blank slate.
So while most Israelis enter the military at the age of 18/19 then leave and enter the civilian workforce at the age of 20/21. Haredi men have to stay studying in a Yeshiva until they're around 26 years old. Which means Haredi men typically enter the workforce a full five years later than their peers.
Given the choice any employer will go for the younger, more experienced candidate over the older, less experienced candidate every time. Also like your experience of High School your military service is something that often comes up during Israeli job interviews. It used to be so common to decline to hire non-veterans that Israel was forced to pass a law in the 1990's to forbid it. The Equalities Act (חוק שוויון ההזדמנויות בעבודה).
Obviously during this five year delay in entering to workforce Haredi men are being paid their NIS1000 monthly stipend from taxpayer. Rather than paying income tax on the money they are earning.
It is only Haredi men who are able to defer military service through the Torato Umanuto exemption. It is only his job to study the Torah. Haredi women aren't allowed to study at Yeshivas.
While some are granted exemptions of the grounds of being religious this is done on a case-by-case basis. The main way in which Haredi women avoid military service is by being granted an exemption on the grounds that they are married and have children or are trying to start a family. This is due to the Haredi practice of arranged marriage at a young age, as young as legally allowed. With women then being relegated to the role of wife and mother.
So the concerns about the Haredi being excluded from wider Israeli society by avoiding military service. It also touches on very deep, existential questions about Israel's national identity. Whether it is a modern secular democracy in which the rights of gay people and, particularly, women are respected. Or a sort of Afghan Taliban style Jewish Theocracy.
It's perhaps interesting then that many Haredi women seem more keen than Haredi men on doing some form of service. Either in the military or, particularly, the civilian National Service. As it gives them an opportunity to experience wider Israeli society, for a short time at least.
The exemption from military service on Torato Umanuto grounds dates all the way back to the birth of modern Israel. At the nation's founding Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion (דָּוִד בֶּן־גּוּרִיּוֹן) agreed with the handful of Yeshivas that their students would be exempted from military service. This was codified into law in the 1949 Security Service Act (חוק שירות הביטחון). Then, subsequently, under Section 36 of the Israeli Security Service Law (חוק שירותי הביטחון).
Initially this exemption was only intended apply to a few dozen people. A hundred or so, maximum. The Defence Minister would meet with the heads of all of the Yeshivas to discuss their students who were of conscription age. Then issue the exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
However since then due to their practice of marrying young and having lots, 5+, children per couple Israel's Haredi population has grown significantly and in relation to the general population. The Haredi now make about 16% of Israel's population. As the Haredi population has grown so too has the number of Yeshivas and Yeshiva students.
In 1998 Torato Umanuto exemptions were challenged at the Israeli Supreme Court. Rubenstein v. The Minister of Defence (רובנשטיין נגד שר הביטחון), 1998. The Supreme Court found that in granting Torato Umanuto exemptions the Minister of Defence, as a member of the Executive branch, was acting Ultra Vires, beyond his powers.
While Section 36 grants the Defence Minister the power to grant exemptions, on really any grounds he wants. That power is intended to be applied to individual cases. Not automatically to 16% of the population. Making such blanket decisions which affect such a large part of the population lies with the Legislative branch. Parliament must pass a specific law to maintain Torato Umanuto exemptions.
Although not relevant to the ruling, in making its ruling Supreme Court invoked the Reasonableness Doctrine. I'm starting to get the impression that rather like the concept of Takfir in Islam. The Israeli Reasonableness Doctrine is a rhetorical flourish. Rather than something which has any defined meaning.
In 2001 the Israeli Parliament did pass a law to maintain Torato Umanuto exemptions. The Tal Law (חוק טל). Which was expanded and updated in 2002.
At around 17:35 on 26/7/23 (UK date) I'll have to pick this up tomorrow.
Edited at around 19:40 on 27/7/23 (UK date) to quickly copy & paste;
Almost immediately the Tal Law was challenged before the Supreme Court in Movement for Quality Government v. Knesset (התנועה לאיכות השלטון נגד הכנסת), 2002. On the grounds that it violated Section 8 of Basic Law: Human Dignity (חוק יסוד: כבוד האדם). The only of Israel's Basic Laws which clearly has Super-Legal status, the ability to strike-down laws which contradict it.
The Supreme Court found that the Tal Law did deprive citizens of rights laid out in the Basic Law. Particularly the right to liberty under Section 5. However Section 8 allows for the deprivation of certain liberties provided it is done for a proper purpose, in benefit of the values of the State of Israel and to an extent no greater than required.
As with pretty every other country it is deemed to be in benefit of the values of the State of Israel to protect its citizens from criminals. By depriving those criminals of their liberty, locking them up in prison. Provided it is limited only to properly convicted criminals and for a length of time that fits the specific crime the individual has been convicted of.
The Supreme Court also found that in theory the purpose of the Tal Law, increasing Haredi men's participation in compulsory service, is a proper purpose which benefits the values of the State of Israel. However as the law was so new the Supreme Court was unable to rule on whether it was performing that proper purpose in practice.
So the Supreme Court upheld the Tal Law. Dismissing the application but doing so without prejudice. Meaning the matter could be heard again in future.
The Tal Law was intended as a temporary measure with a five year sunset clause. Meaning that after five years it expires and needs to be either renewed or replaced. In 2007 the Tal Law was renewed until 2012.
The matter returned to the Supreme Court in Ressler v. Knesset (רסלר נגד הכנסת), 2012. With there now being 10 years of data on the laws implementation the Supreme Court found that it was having no significant impact in increasing Haredi men's participation in compulsory service. Therefore was not serving a proper purpose and was, therefore in violation of the Basic Law.
However the Supreme Court then placed a stay on its ruling. Allowing the Tal Law to expire under its sunset clause, six months later.
In 2014 the Israeli Parliament passed an amendment to the Israeli Security Service Law (amendment 19). This placed a requirement on Yeshivas to make an increasing quota of students available to compulsory service. Or a quota for reducing the number of students seeking exemptions. Depending on how you look at it. Anyone failing to comply with those quotas would be punishable by up to two years imprisonment. If 60% of Yeshiva students weren't available for compulsory service by 2017 then the Torato Umanuto exemption would be scrapped entirely.
In 2015 the Israeli Parliament amended the law again. Removing the criminal penalties for not complying with the quotas. While delaying the imposition of the quotas until 2020. Thus removing the 2017 deadline.
Although I've not been able to track down the specifics of either the laws or the case. These two amendments were challenged at the Supreme Court in 2017. On the same grounds that the Tal Law was challenged. Incompatibility with Section 8 of Basic Law: Human Dignity.
Again the Supreme Court found that the amendments weren't significantly increasing Haredi men's participation in compulsory service. Therefore weren't serving a proper purpose and, therefore, were in violation of the Basic Law. However the Supreme Court placed a one year stay on its ruling. Allowing Torato Umanuto exemptions to continue to be granted. This one year stay has been renewed every year since.
It was the failure to pass a law to boost Haredi men's participation in compulsory service which saw the pro-Settler but anti-Haredi Yisreal Beiteinu (יִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּיתֵנוּ) withdraw from the coalition government in 2018. Triggering the political crisis Israel still finds itself in today.
Officially it is also the reason that Yisreal Beiteinu and centrist, secular Yesh Atid (יֵשׁ עָתִיד) refused to join Likud (הַלִּיכּוּד) in the current coalition. Forcing Likud to form the current government with the Haredi parties' Shas (״ס) and United Torah Judaism (יהדות התורה). Along with the pro-Settler Otzma Yehudit (עָצְמָה יְהוּדִית).
Shas and UTJ threatened to vote against the budget, thus bringing down the government, if a law protecting Haredi men from compulsory service wasn't proposed. Overriding various Supreme Court rulings against Torato Umanuto exemptions has been the Haredi parties main interest in the discussions over some sort of override power.
The current stay on the Supreme Court's 2017 ruling expires on July 31st (31/7/23). While the distinctly partisan, distinctly activist Movement for Quality Government claim that the laws to which the Supreme Court's stay relates actually expired on June 30th (30/6/23). Against the backdrop of the current Judicial Reform dispute it seems unlikely that the Supreme Court will be granting another stay/extension.
Although most Haredi men do not serve in the IDF many do. Either by not deferring their conscription or by volunteering. There is even a dedicated Haredi Battalion. The 97th Judah's Eternity Battalion (Netzah Yehuda/.(גדוד נצח יהודה
Particularly with Netzah Yehuda I get the impression that the wider IDF view them more as an irritation than an asset. The IDF is fully gender integrated. So while you do get some exclusively male units and some exclusively female units. If a male training, logistics, intelligence, culinary specialist etc needs to be seconded to an all female unit or vice versa. Then that isn't a problem.
However Netzah Yehuda insist that the bases they operate out of have to follow Haredi religious law. So all the culinary staff have to be Kosher and no female staff, military or civilian, are allowed on bases Netzah Yehuda are operating from. Which makes all the tedious administration involved in running any large organisation that little bit more difficult.
Also while some may be prepared to compromise their views as part of a secular nation. The Haredi are supposed to believe in Israel as a Jewish Theocracy. So their views towards non-Jews, particularly Arab Muslims, can be noticeably less tolerant than secular members of the IDF.
On January 12th 2022 Netzah Yehuda stopped the 80 year old US/Palestinian Dual Citizen Omar Assad (عمر الأسد) at a checkpoint near Jiljilyya (جلجليّا) in the Israeli Occupied West Bank. He was handcuffed, gagged and forced to lie in a prone position for between 20 minutes and an hour. He then died of a heart-attack, with some claiming it was caused by the stress of his physical restraint. Although that claim is largely being made by the same people who claim a man with Blood/Oxygen saturation of 98% has died because he can't breathe.
Whatever the facts of the case it prompted the US Embassy to Israel to launch an investigation into the wider conduct of Netzah Yehuda. In response the IDF redeployed Netzah Yehuda out of the Occupied West Bank. Seemingly indicating that the IDF felt Netzah Yehuda's rather strong views on non-Jews made them more trouble than they're worth militarily.
Obviously the IDF is far better placed than I am to explain its needs to the Haredi community and its leaders. However I suspect that strategically the IDF is only interested in the Haredi going through basic training rather than have them actually serve in the military. So if there is another big war like 1967 or 1973. The IDF can quickly mobilise the Haredi and use them to backfill support roles. While the professional soldiers who would normally perform those roles were off doing the actual fighting.
There is one possible compromise which has existed almost since the birth of modern Israel. The Hesder (הסדר). It might be possible to streamline and refine that arrangement to bring it more in line with standard IDF service. So Haredi men go through the 6-8 months of basic training. Then their job within the IDF is to study the Torah at onbase Yeshivas.
Rather like how Noa Kirel did her 6-8 months of basic training. Then the IDF let her carry on with her job of being a popstar. Only whilst wearing the costume of an IDF soldier.
At around 20:00 on 27/7/23 (UK date) this is going to have to drag into next week now.
Edited at around 18:55 on 31/7/23 (UK date) to tidy all of the above and copy & paste;
Of course there is another large section of Israeli society which doesn't do compulsory military service. Arab Muslims and Arab Christians. Although Arab Druze and Arab Circassians are conscripted.
Unlike with the Haredi Torato Umanuto exemptions Arab-Israelis exclusion from compulsory military service hasn't been tested much in Court. Those Arab-Israelis who want to serve in the IDF volunteer and serve in the IDF. While those who don't want to are perfectly happy about not being conscripted.
As with the Torato Umanuto exemptions Arab-Israelis exemption from conscription dates back to the birth of modern Israel. The 1949 Security Service Act. It was felt that it would place an undue burden on Israel's Arab population. Forcing them to fight against other Arabs.
Given Israel's extremely delicate left-wing sensibilities is not possible to completely dismiss that argument. However the 1949 Security Service Act was passed in direct response to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Its entire purpose was to prepare Israel for the next Arab-Israeli War. So obviously the main concern was really over security rather than hurting the feelings of the Arab-Israeli population. Arab-Israelis couldn't universally be trusted to fight for, rather than against, Israel in the next Arab-Israeli War.
It seems to me that these days the main work of the IDF isn't protecting Israel from its Arab neighbours. Instead it's ending rather stupid conflicts with the Palestinians and is own Arab citizens which have been provoked by the utter lawlessness of the Haredi Settlers.
The actions of the Jewish Underground (המחתרת היהודית) in the late 1970's and early 1980's is seen by many as a watershed moment for Israel. The adoption of an unspoken agreement within the Israeli State that Israeli laws don't really apply to the Settlers.
The Jewish Underground started by carrying out a campaign of bomb attacks against Arab and Palestinian Mayors and local officials. Such as the Mayors of Nablus (نابلس/שכם) and Ramallah (رام الله). They were caught red-handed while planting bombs on buses intended to kill 250+ Muslims in a single attack. The subsequent investigation revealed that they were planning to blow up the Dome of the Rock (قبة الصخرة) at the al-Aqsa (جامع الأقصى)/Temple Mount (הַר הַבַּיִת) compound.
The group's bombmaker was Menachem Livni (מנחם לבני), the commander of an IDF reserve battalion of combat engineers. The explosives he used had all been stolen from IDF stocks.
Obviously
all recruits to the IDF go through security vetting. However I think
it's fair to assume that Arab Muslim volunteers go through the most
security vetting. Apparently in 2021 alone the IDF rejected some 700
volunteers on the grounds that they weren't Arab-Israelis. They're citizens
of countries which Israeli is technically at war with, such as Lebanon
and Syria.
I know that not all Haredi are Settlers and not all Settlers are Haredi. However the burden of the extra security vetting needed to make that distinction is probably another reason why the IDF isn't hugely desperate to massively boost the number of Haredi recruits.
Instead the issue is more about how to stop Haredi men being excluded from and left behind by wider Israeli society. Due to the current system of Torato Umanuto exemptions holding them back from entering the workforce until the age of 26.
The previous Bennett-Lapid government attempted to introduce legislation to formalise the Torato Umanuto exemption. This really gave up on any notion of attempting to increase Haredi service in the IDF. Instead reducing the Haredi conscription age to 21 from the de facto 26. Allowing Haredi men avoid compulsory service entirely and enter the workforce a full five years earlier.
If the Bennett-Lapid proposal had become law that it would have been subject to challenge at the Supreme Court. On the same grounds as the Tal Law and Amendment 19. That it violated Basic Law: Human Dignity unless it meaningfully increased Haredi participation in the workforce, or compulsory service. Whichever its stated; "Proper Purpose" would be.
Both Movement for Quality Government v. Knesset (2002) and Ressler v. Knesset (2012) were argued on the grounds that the laws violated the right to; "Equality" granted by Basic Law: Human Dignity. It was certainly an issue which was much discussed in both rulings.
There is nothing in the text of Basic Law: Human Dignity which explicitly grants the right of; "Equality." Such as the Equal Protection clause in the 14th Amendment. However there is the Natural Law concept of; "Equality Before the Law." Along with some Israeli case law which implies that Equality is an element of Basic Human Dignity.
Both rulings are valid on the grounds that the laws in question violate Section 5 of Basic Law: Human Dignity. Anything after that is really theatrics and theoreticals.
However if the Bennett-Lapid proposal
had become law. Then it would call into much tighter focus the issue of
whether Basic Law: Human Dignity includes the right of Equality. The
requirement that all Religious/Ethnic groups in Israel must be treated
equally in the eyes of the law. As would any challenge to Arab exclusion
from conscription.
If different Religious/Ethnic groups can be treated differently, either beneficially or detrimentally, under Israel law. Then that would make Israel an; "Apartheid State" under any internationally recognised definition of the term.
I do often wonder whether the Western Leftists who so casually throw that slogan around realise. It's largely been written for them by Israeli-Jews. In a nation which seems to exist in an almost constant state of argument and debate.
Perhaps suggesting that they hadn't thought it all the way through. The Bennett-Lapid proposal didn't make it beyond its first reading in Parliament. However one way for it to avoid Basic Law: Human Dignity issues would be for it to become part of a streamlined and refined version of Hesder. So you're not discriminating by allowing a certain Religious/Ethnic group to avoid service. You're allowing them to spend the same length of service studying the Torah.
Obviously
I'm not about to start lecturing Jews on the topic of Judaism. I'm still
confused how I ended up with the role of Global Spokesman for Judaism.
However I'm not seeing a reason why a version of Hesder couldn't be
expanded beyond the Rabbi Amital (הרב עמיטל) strand of Judaism.
Again if the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest had been able to go ahead. Then it would have taken place around the festival of Lag BaOmer (לַ״ג בָּעוֹמֶר). A time which saw another flare up of violence between Israel and Palestine. Specifically the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday May 2nd 2023 (2/5/23) Khader Adnan (خضر عدنان), a senior spokesman for The Islamic Jihad Movement In Palestine (حركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين) died. He had been on hunger-strike throughout the 87 days he'd been held in Administrative Detention by Israel. A form of deprivation of liberty which is not covered by Section 5 of Israel's Basic Law: Human Dignity.
In response to Adnan's death, also on May 2nd, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fired at least 102 rockets into Israel from Gaza. Injuring at least 7 people in the Israeli city of Sderot (שְׂדֵרוֹת).
Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's response to this was what Ben-Gvir's response to anything always seems to be; "Kill Arabs!"
Ben-Gvir wanted the IDF to carry out a highly aggressive operation against all Palestinian militant groups in both Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. His thinking being that if enough of them were killed then it would frighten them into never attacking Israel again.
On Tuesday May 9th (9/5/23) Ben-Gvir was given exactly what he wanted. The IDF carried out two hours of intensive bombing in Gaza. Targeting and eliminating the senior leadership of PIJ. This operation was named; "Operation: Shield And Arrow." In reference to Lag BaOmer. The bows and arrows that Jewish children are given to play with.
Operation: Shield And Arrow most certainly did not achieve its objective of terrifying PIJ into never attacking Israel again. After recovering from having their organisation decapitated PIJ responded by attacking Israel. On Thursday May 11th (11/5/23) they began what became a barrage of 938 rockets into Israel. Including rockets which reached as far as Jerusalem. Essentially on the opposite side of Israel from Gaza.
This round of violence
was only brought to an end in the same way that all previous rounds of
violence have been brought to an end. Through a negotiated ceasefire
which came into effect on the evening of Saturday May 13th (13/5/23).
It is worth noting that since the end of the 2005 Lebanon War both Israel and Palestine have enjoyed a period of almost unprecedented peace. Israel rather skilfully managed to stay of out the massive war against The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated groups. Which has raged in Iraq and Israel's immediate neighbour, Syria. Which Israel is still, technically, at war with.
However even by the standards of the Israel/Palestine Conflict over the past 18 years. Operation: Shield And Arrow was not a particularly large exchange.
Technically it lasted for 5 days. However during 2 of those days nothing happened. Israel saw only 2 civilians killed and 7 wounded. While Gaza saw 33 killed and 147 wounded. 19 of those killed were definitely combatants. Members of PIJ who were killed at the very start of the operation. With the obvious exception of PIJ I get the impression that none of those involved were particularly upset by it.
In response to Operation: Shield And Arrow a Tunisian National Guardsman killed 5 people in a mass shooting at a Synagogue in Djerba (جربة). Where Jews had gathered to mark Lag BaOmer. Proof conclusive that at least one person in Tunisia knows how to use Wikipedia. I think any further discussion is best limited to those who have appropriate security clearance. So anyone who has ever served in the IDF then.
In July 2022 I had myself a little bit of a drama. I cooked dinner then turned my gas oven off before going off to watch a movie. I returned to discover that my oven hadn't turned off and was never going to turn off again. Forcing me to have the gas supply to my home entirely shutdown until I would get a new oven delivered and installed.
What made the already explosive situation so much worse was the movie I was watching; "Entebbe" the 2018 telling of the true story of the Israeli SOF raid on Uganda's Entebbe Airport. To rescue passengers from an Air France flight which had been hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين/PFLP).
As within real life the only Israeli military fatality in the movie was Yoni Netanyahu (יונתן נתניהו).
The older brother of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Alongside his brother Benjamin Netanyahu also served in Sayerat Matkal (סיירת מטכ״). The most elite SOF unit in the IDF.
In 1973 a coalition of 12 Arab States launched a surprise attack to eliminate the State of Israel. The 1973 Arab-Israeli or Yom Kippur War. Which prompted the US to go to DEFCON:3 on Jews. Except it wasn't a surprise attack. Sayerat Matkal had snuck into Egypt and physically tapped into the Egyptian military's telephone lines. Allowing Israel to know all of the Arab coalition's plans.
Due to that and many other extremely sensitive, clandestine missions. The mere existence Sayerat Matkal was long a closely guarded secret. When it was mentioned it was often only referred to as; "A Unit," "That Unit" or; "The Unit." It was part of the inspiration for the US TV show; "The Unit." Written by David Mamet.
Whereas Itamar Ben-Gvir didn't serve in any unit of the IDF.
Not because he was exempt as a member of the Haredi community. He failed the security vetting.
As far as the IDF are concerned Itamar Ben-Gvir is as much of a threat to Israel as a Palestinian militant.
19:55 on 31/7/23 (UK date).
