The Civilian Service Directorate for haredi men, designed as an alternative to
military service, announced on Monday that it has opened a new course for
recruits in the Border Police force.
According to the directorate, dozens
of men from the ultra- Orthodox sector will be able to join the unit, which will
serve in the Judea region as part of operational deployments designed to prevent
infiltration in and around Jerusalem.
Recruitment for the civilian
service program is currently frozen because it was established through the “Tal
Law,” which expired at the beginning of August.
No recruits have been
enlisted since then but civilian service director Sar-Shalom Gerbi expressed
hope on Monday that a temporary government order will soon be issued to provide
a short-term legal solution to the problem, and allow renewed
enlistment.
“We’re talking about a skillful segment of the population
which can contribute greatly to the security of the State of Israel with this
integration into Border Police missions,” Border Police Cmdr. Yoram Halevy
said.
“The course focuses on integrating them into operations for
defending the seam zone and preventing the entry of terrorists and hostile
elements, and I have no doubt that their contribution will be a significant
force-multiplier in this complex and sensitive task.”
The new course was
designed by the directorate in close coordination with the Border Police. Gerbi
and Halevy met on Sunday, together with civilian service volunteers to unveil
the new course.
The haredi recruits will be led throughout their service
by Border Police staff and officers, who will also conduct the unit’s six-week
training course.
The directorate emphasized that the course would enable
the haredi recruits to maintain their lifestyle. The unit will be operative five
days a week, not including Friday and Saturday.
“We are working to expand
the number of courses available within the civilian service ahead of a new round
of enlistment,” Gerbi said. “I have no doubt that the haredi recruits who will
join the Border Police will serve as members of the force in every respect and
will be an important component in all the required operational
activities.”
Surprise was expressed in some quarters over the
announcement, given that the Border Police are frequently deployed to deal with
riots in haredi neighborhoods which often involving violent confrontations.