In a dramatic show of solidarity, Beitar Illit’s city council held a special session outside Israel’s Justice Ministry, backing opposition to Attorney General Baharav-Miara’s draft plan and warning of deepening social conflict.
On Tuesday, the Beitar Illit city council convened in an unusual setting—a protest tent erected by MK Meir Porush (UTJ) outside the Justice Ministry in Jerusalem. The symbolic gathering was staged as part of the growing opposition to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s proposed haredi conscription policy.
During the session, the council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the government to expand Beitar Illit’s municipal boundaries, while also voicing firm support for yeshiva students resisting the draft.
Mayor Meir Rubinstein opened the meeting by highlighting the gravity of the moment:
“Every member of the haredi community would want to be here, standing in solidarity with the yeshiva students who uphold the spiritual strength of the people of Israel. It is unthinkable that thousands are treated as criminals simply for studying Torah.”
MK Meir Porush thanked participants and condemned the draft plan as a dangerous precedent:
“We never imagined a Jewish state would block people from earning a livelihood because of Torah study. Denying parents the ability to provide for their children undermines the foundations of a democratic society.”
He warned that failure to resolve the crisis could carry explosive consequences:
“After 75 years of statehood, it is unacceptable to harshly confront a community of hundreds of thousands. Without a willingness to listen, the situation could escalate into more violent conflict.”
The protest tent has become a flashpoint in the escalating national debate over haredi enlistment, reflecting mounting tensions between Israel’s secular legal establishment and its ultra-Orthodox communities.
