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| The poster in question |
The Israeli public is concerned after new posters were distributed in ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods calling on members to murder Haredi soldiers.
The flyers, which were distributed in ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, especially in Jerusalem, are calling for the murder of Haredi members of the Israel Defense Forces, allegedly on the orders of leading rabbis.
The posters, which may have been falsified, calls on people to participate in the mitzvah of "harakiri", a Japanese murder ritual, against any Haredi soldier, even if it means being jailed for the killing.
According to the flyers, entitled "Operation Hardakiri" the "hardakim", a derogatory term referring to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers, are the agents of the evil Zionist government. The soldiers are also evil because they serve alongside immodest girls, the flyers erroneously claim. The flyers call on Jews to fulfill the great mitzvah.
One of the phone numbers listed at the bottom of the flyers belongs to Mivtzar, an organization meant to assist Haredim, who want to dodge the draft. In a voice message, the organization asks the public to report any man or yeshiva student who has recruited or is planning to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces.
Another phone number on the flyer belongs to an organization running the Tomb of Rachel site, however, they seem to have nothing to do with the matter.
Rabbi Uri Regev, president of Hiddush, an organization fighting for freedom of religion, filed a complaint with the police against the unknown distributors of the flyers, claiming that those behind it committing several serious crimes.
"In view of the wave of violence against ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers, you need to show strong and unequivocal action in order to avoid casualties," Regev said. "A person calling for the murder of soldiers is a terrorist, and should be treated that way," the rabbi told police.