Members of an extremist haredi organization called "The Committee for the Struggle" that is fighting attempts by the Israeli government to conscript haredim, sent a letter to the United Nations on Tuesday, arguing that that they are being harmed by the state, which is "committing gross violations of international law."
Notices sent out to haredi conclaves on Tuesday reported that representatives of the group intended to visit the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Jerusalem at 3 p.m. Tuesday to hand over the letter, which detailed the "crimes" they allege the government is perpetrating against them.
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The committee, which is linked to the extremist Jerusalem-based Edah Haredit sect, is claiming that their protest is a historic moment for the nations of the world to "stop forcing young people to join the annihilation army, which is a violation of three serious laws of the Jewish religion."
The haredi news site Kikar Hashabat quoted parts of the group's letter to the UN.
"We have lived in Jerusalem since the days of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and since then have lived in peace with our Arab neighbors. [We are] seeking the urgent intervention of the United Nations against the Israeli government for gross violations of international law, and actions that go against the same foundations that the Israelis claim their country and legal system are based on," the letter reads.
"We are persecuted daily," the group claimed.
"We ask the UN General Assembly/or the UN Human Rights Department [sic] to inform the Israeli government that it is carrying out illegal actions as part of its desire to re-educate the sons of the haredi minority.
"In addition, we would like to inform them that they must refrain from such actions in the future and that they must allow a minority the right … not to be called 'criminals' just because they wish to uphold their religious principles," the letter adds.
