Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel. But politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties have won exemptions for their followers to skip military service and instead study in religious seminaries.
So…
Their religious beliefs prevents them from having military service…
But not supporting a genocide…
And they can still violently attack people?
Most ultra-orthodox Jews are actually anti-zionists. It’s not uncommon to see them joining pro-palestine peace protests.
Within Israel they are a minority, and their broadly anti-war stance combined with their dependence on the state for financial support (most of the men are unemployed) have made them quite unpopular in the eyes of the general population.
I’m confused…
Are they a politically powerful group like the Associated Press says?
Or a small minority with no political power like a random social media account just told me?
The
vast majority of Hareidi Jews are Zionist.There are small groups totalling a few thousand who are Anti Zionist but live in Israel.The Ultra Orthodox majority not only supports the state, but are represented by religious parties in the current government under Netanyahu.
Edit: Survey data shown below shows that although Hareidi Jews in Israel participate in the government, are represented by designated parties, and those parties are members of the current government under Netanyahu, the majority of those same people consider themselves either “not too” Zionist or “not at all” Zionist.
The vast majority of Hareidi Jews are Zionist
So as a larger community, they’re hypocritical and support the genocide in Gaza.
But some fringe members are actually non-violent and against the genocide of their neighbors?
That makes sense.
But the other person just claimed the opposite:
Most ultra-orthodox Jews are actually anti-zionists
Which is what confused me.
Your definition of Zionism is almost certainly not what the word means in Israel
I mean, probably, yeah that’s a safe bet.
But I meant you replied to me and said one thing, and someone else replied to me saying the exact opposite.
But yeah, you seem to know what you’re talking about and I was curious. So thanks for answering my questions.
I didn’t say they weren’t politically powerful. The two main Haredi (Ultra-orthodox) parties are significant part of Netanyahu’s coalition, and they have always had a disproportionate power compared to the Haredi population because almost all Haredi voters vote for them.
Within the Haredi community there is still a wide range of opinions, of course. However, even within Israel most have not traditionally described themselves as Zionists (only 33% percent, according to a 2016 survey).
The two main Haredi (Ultra-orthodox) parties are significant part of Netanyahu’s coalition, and they have always had a disproportionate power compared to the Haredi population because almost all Haredi voters vote for them.
100% not trying to be a dick, because I appreciate the insight.
But is there a typo in there?
Or are you saying that the population will always just vote for the party because of shared religious beliefs…
Even though the party acts against those beliefs?
Like, I’m not trying to argue if that’s logical. I’m American, we have far right abrahmic extremists too that unironically support trump despite him pretty much doing the opposite of their religious guidance at every chance. No judgement on that, I’m not asking you to defend them.
I’m just asking if I’m understanding you right about what’s going on. Because I don’t understand how the Ultra Orthodox party can have “disproportionate power” over their own voting base.
Except in the context that they just vote for whoever their religious leaders tell them to without question or thought.
But also, a lot of shit has gone down since 2016… Those numbers might not be up to date
