The freed draft dodgers
Haredi draft dodgets welcomed home with limousines
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox men cheer, sing and dance as 63 draft-dodgers return to Jerusalem after serving jail time for refusing to enlist in the IDF; 'Heroes who literally sacrificed their soul to erase the draft law,' says Committee for Saving the World of Torah.
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox men welcomed members of the radical Jerusalem Faction who were released from military prison on Tuesday after serving time for refusing to enlist in the IDF.
The 63 draft dodgers traveled from Prison 4 in Tzrifin to Jerusalem in 12 limousines, disrupting and slowing down traffic.
Haredi draft dodgers welcomed home (צילום: עפר מאיר)
The Jerusalem Faction, which often holds demonstrations and blocks roads in protest of the IDF draft, organized a rally of solidarity with the army deserters on Yermiyahu Street in the capital.
Each of the draft dodgers had a sash on that said "Accused prisoner," and they were greeted by the crowds with cheers, song and dance.
Freed draft-dodgers with 'accused prisoner' sashes
The Jerusalem Faction said the event was also in solidarity with Aharon Biala, a prominent Haredi protester who was imprisoned last week for 20 days due to his refusal to enlist.
Crowds welcome draft dodgers
The Committee for Saving the World of Torah said "The Haredi public treasures and admires its heroes, who literally sacrificed their soul to erase the draft law—which incriminated many from the world of Torah—turning it into a dead letter in the statute book.
Crowds surround draft dodgers' limousines, cheering (Photo: Yishai Porat)
"We're calling on the authorities to start internalizing the fact that the Haredi public does not act against its own beliefs and does not compromise. We won't allow a group that defines itself as the messengers of the Haredi public to continue the liquidation sale of the world of Torah. Our heroes are those young men who face them fearlessly with a burning truth and declare 'This Torah will not be replaced.'"
