After widespread public outcry in response to news
earlier this week that the IDF was moving its swearing in ceremony for
new recruits to its haredi Netzach Yehuda battalion from Israel’s
national Six Day War memorial at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem to a
closed army base due to haredi threats, the IDF has changed its mind –
the ceremony will be held Sunday at Ammunition Hill after all, just as the battalion's soldiers wanted.
IDF Bows To Public Pressure, Moves Haredi Swearing-In Ceremony Back To Ammunition Hill Despite Haredi Threats
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
After widespread public outcry in response to news broken by Ynet earlier this week that the IDF was moving its swearing in ceremony for new recruits to its haredi Netzach Yehuda battalion from Israel’s national Six Day War memorial at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem to a closed army base due to haredi threats, the IDF has changed its mind – the ceremony will be held Sunday at Ammunition Hill after all just as the battalion's soldiers wanted, Ynet reported.
Netzach Yehuda was originally part of the Nahal Brigade, and is still known as Nahal Haredi. It is primarily made up of draft age men who have left the haredi community and abandoned its worldview. Some have even left Orthodoxy altogether and are now secular.
However, a significant percentage of Nahal Haredi soldiers actually come from Zionist Orthodox communities but want to serve in a unit with no female soldiers, strictly glatt kosher mehadrin food, and ongoing Torah classes.
Soldiers in the battalion were reportedly upset the IDF had moved the ceremony to a closed army base. One haredi soldier told Ynet that the IDF’s decision to move the ceremony to closed army base could be viewed as “capitulation” on the haredi street.
For its part, the IDF said its original decision to move the ceremony away from Ammunition Hill was an attempt to stop fighting between brothers.