Political analyst Amit Segal dissects the massive Haredi protest in Jerusalem, calling it less a political act and more a sociological outcry from a community struggling to reconcile faith, modernity, and the State of Israel.
Thursday’s enormous demonstration in Jerusalem, where hundreds of thousands of Haredim rallied against the arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students, captured Israel’s attention and ignited a national debate.
Political commentator Amit Segal, speaking on Channel 12 News, argued that the protest’s deeper meaning lies not in politics but in sociology — a clash between tradition and a rapidly modernizing Israel.
📜 The Draft Law’s “Semantic Revolution”
Segal noted that the new Draft Law bill subtly redefines the state’s relationship with the Haredi world.
“The most significant change,” he explained, “is the removal of the term ‘yeshiva students’ — replaced by ‘regulating the status of yeshiva students.’”
At first glance, it sounds bureaucratic. But for the ultra-Orthodox leadership, words matter.
“They’ll say, ‘Look—this law doesn’t draft them; it formalizes their status.’”
The linguistic shift could allow the government to pass the law while letting the Haredi community claim victory — a delicate balancing act between legal equality and coalition survival.
📊 A Sociological Lens: Protest or Paradox?
Segal emphasized that the real question is who actually serves:
“Those who drop out after two years, or those doing National Service. That’s where the real numbers are.”
But his sharpest critique targeted the internal contradictions of Haredi society itself.
“The entire protest today is evidence of the Haredi public’s lack of a sustainable model,” he said.
And in a striking observation, Segal exposed the irony of the demonstration:
“How was this protest filmed? With drones. How was it broadcast? Through 5G cellular networks. Where did the images come from? Cellphones they’re not even supposed to use. The whole event is a cry — ‘Let’s tear down the new world to its foundations.’”
⚖️ A Cry of Faith Amid Strategic Vacuum
In his concluding remarks, Segal contrasted the Haredi sector’s reactive stance with the strategic clarity of other ideological camps:
“Bezalel Smotrich wants to lead Israel to his vision; he has a plan. Yair Golan has his plan. But the Haredi community has no viable model.”
Segal described the demonstration not as defiance, but as desperation:
“It’s not just a protest — it’s a cry of ‘Shema Yisrael’. We have no way to save ourselves right now, and we hope for the best.”
בסיום דבריו התייחס סגל למצבו האסטרטגי של המגזר החרדי ואמר, “בצלאל סמוטריץ’ רוצה להוביל את מדינת ישראל למקום שלו, הוא מציג תוכנית, יאיר גולן יש לו את התוכנית שלו. אין מודל קיום לחברה החרדית – ולכן מה שאנחנו רואים עכשיו זה לא הפגנה, אלא זעקת ‘שמע ישראל’ – אין לנו כרגע איך להושיע את עצמנו ונקווה לטוב”.
