Israel: Haredim seek to join police service instead of IDF
Dozens of young ultra-Orthodox men are choosing to join the Israel Police instead of the IDF, following the army’s war on the exclusion of women and the recent dismissal of the rabbi in charge of integrating haredim into military service.
In the police, the new recruits are promised better conditions matching their religious beliefs, such as complete gender segregation and strictly kosher meals.
Some 30 haredim have joined the Traffic Police in the past year, where they enjoy special conditions. The police service program is an alternative for compulsory military service
Following the growing rift between the army and religious soldiers, the police aim to recruit at least 100 new haredi policemen. The new recruits may also serve in the police’s 100 emergency call center.
Apart from the complete separation from women, the police are trying to lure the young haredim with additional benefits like easier service conditions and a special permit to take off their uniform upon leaving the station.
“This is a significant benefit for the haredi public, as there are those who prefer to conceal their work in the security forces,” explains one of the haredi policemen serving as part of the special program.
“In the police we won’t face problems of women singing. They have a lot of respect for religion and religious policemen there, and they won’t hurt my feelings,” says one of the young men considering joining the police.
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