The NYTimes has a longish and mildly confusing article about the two largest Haredi settlements on the West Bank, Beitar Illit and Modi'in Illit, which together make up for some half of the growth of the settlements. The Haredi are far too complex a story for regular journalists, it appears, even the rather good ones at the NYT, who can't really figure them out and fall back on sterotyping and sound bites. Still, even in their clischee-ish rendition, it's pretty obvious the Obama team isn't doing anyone a service by predicating their peace-mongering on pretending these places are the same as Tapuach.
Which is precisely what I've been saying for weeks. So if you wish to exchange your subscription to the NYT to support of this channel, all you need to do is... hmmn. I'll have to figure out what I might wish you to do.
PS. Did you note the part about the 40-year-old mayor with three grandchildren?
Yaacov
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the strength of the state if the Haredi population decides to enter the workforce/army/national service?
I am not even a little bit religious but that would be cool.
It seems to me that Israel places a lot of barriers against Haredi participation in the army; and that this feeds into Haredi avoidance of the mainstream workforce.
ReplyDeleteI acknowledge that army duty has real and symbolic importance for Israelis, but most Haredim are simply not ever going to join the army. The only way they can avoid this is by becoming perpetual students, which means that the State loses their services twice. I don't know if there is a solution to this that doesn't compromise Israel's national ethos.
The barriers placed against Haredim are of their own making.
ReplyDeleteThere are Haredi units in the IDF, the most well-known being Nahal Haredi - and they are great soldiers.
It is a matter of will.