Lt. Col. (res.) Yossi Levy, a figure involved in integrating Haredi youth into the IDF, warned that what began as name-calling has escalated to direct threats and an attempted physical assault against himself and other activists, including during a recent NCO course graduation of the Hashmonai Brigade, according to Channel 12's Eli Hirshman.
Lt. Col. (res.) Yossi Levy, a key figure in the effort to integrate ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) youth into the Israel Defense Forces, issued a stark warning Wednesday evening about the escalation of hostility against activists working on the issue. In a statement relayed by Channel 12 Haredi affairs correspondent Eli Hirshman, Levy said that verbal abuse and posters have given way to 'direct, tangible, and dangerous threats,' culminating in an attempted physical assault against himself and others at events including recruitment days and a recent graduation ceremony of the Hashmonai Brigade's NCO course.
The remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions over Haredi military service, a deeply divisive issue in Israeli society that has seen protests, arrests, and public clashes between the community and law enforcement. While the Zioneer's archive contains multiple reports on the broader debate — including previous warnings about incitement and incidents of violence — Levy's specific account of a physical attack attempt marks a notable escalation in the personal risks faced by integration advocates. No further details about the assault or the identity of the perpetrators were provided in the immediate report.
2 developments
- DevelopingHaredi protesters attacked IDF officer responsible for integrating yeshiva students
- StrongIDF official says army made 'unprecedented moves' to integrate Haredim in recent years
- DevelopingOpinion video argues IDF armored corps gender integration weakens professionalism
- StrongHaredi yeshiva student violently attacked; assailant threatens to murder him
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