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Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest Israel draft plans

17 July 2012 00:19 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested Monday in Jerusalem against attempts to draft members of the cloistered community into the Israeli military, AP reports quoting Associated Press.

The government is trying to find a formula to obligate ultra-Orthodox Jews to serve in the military before a court-determined Aug. 1 deadline. The current law largely exempts the community from military service. That infuriates many Israelis, since almost all others are required to serve. Israelâ€™s Supreme Court ruled the law must be revised.

In the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, children wearing handcuffs and signs reading "save me" marched the streets Monday. The ultra-Orthodox fear assimilation in the secular military and claim they are serving the state by serving God in prayer and study.

A high-profile panel aimed at finding a compromise was recently disbanded.