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Demonstrators besiege home of Charedi Israeli MK Uri Maklev over army recruitment

Maklev supports new regulations for the enlistment of religious women

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Police were called to rescue a Charedi Knesset member after dozens of Charedi protestors demonstrated outside his home in Jerusalem.

Uri Maklev, of United Torah Judaism, was besieged by a group protesting the planned discussion by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee concerning the enlistment of religious women into the Israeli army.

Activists have been protesting near the homes of Charedi MKs who cooperate with IDF and Defence Ministry officials about the approval of new regulations for the enlistment of religious women.

Religious women are able to gain an exemption from IDF service.

However, the regulations, which the committee approved on Tuesday, allow for an exemption to be cancelled if a woman is found not to be religious or has become nonreligious since she applied for the exemption.

Protesters against this decision blocked two exits from Mr Maklev’s building, making it impossible for him or his family to leave.

Police arrived at his home on Tuesday and had to break through the crowd to rescue the MK and his wife.

They arrested three demonstrators.

Video footage of the rescue shows police officers shielding the couple from protesters shouting “murderer”.

The police said they “acted to restore order and have so far arrested three protesters who blatantly violated public order and interfered with police officers carrying out their duties.”

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