At Israel’s founding in 1948, ultra-Orthodox men were exempt from military service in exchange for support of the secular state, but tensions escalated after a war in Gaza in 2023. The Supreme Court ruled that Haredi men were no longer exempt, leading to protests and draft orders for 10,000 Haredi men, with only 338 showing up. The story follows three Haredi teenagers – Chaim Krausz, Itamar Greenberg, and Yechiel Wais – who represent different perspectives on military service and the future of the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel.
Full Article
EU hosts aid drive for post-Assad Syria
Germany launched a new pledging round of aid for Syria, with the EU hosting a donor drive after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, marking the first time Syrian authorities will be represented at the conference. The focus is on supporting urgent humanitarian needs, as Syria remains in ruins with millions in need of assistance. Western powers are pushing for an inclusive political process and hope to secure funding for reconstruction efforts in the future. Full...
Read more