What is the difference between "Orthodox" and "ultra-Orthodox"? Do Orthodox Jews strongly support the "women of the Wall" and only the "ultra-Orthodox" oppose them?
They are anti-democratic
As am I. I support a republican form of representative government - not a plebiscitary democracy. I stand with Washington, Hamilton and Madison on this point.
draft dodge the army en masse
Maybe a fair criticism - do the "Women of the Wall" oppose all forms of conscientious objection?
Also, is forced conscription of the population democratic or anti-democratic?
no longer wanted in the government
Should they be excluded from the government? If they were, would this be democratic?
massively unpopular among the general population
At current rates of growth, it would seem that they are becoming the "general population."
and all these women request are their basic rights as citizens, which they are entitled to
There is a "basic right" to deliberately provoke other citizens by mocking their religion in its holiest place?
While Unitarians in the USA, say, would have a First Amendment right to mock and belittle Eastern Orthodox Christians by imitating their liturgy - and let's say they were rude enough to do it on the sidewalk in front of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - the local government would likely tell them (1) they need to a permit to protest so consistently and provocatively in that precise location and (2) then move to deny them a permit.
And the courts would uphold that.
Why? Because both sides have a right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion - and the Orthodox were there first.
Here’s the latest on this issue. Bennett’s party represents mainstream Orthodox.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-steps-into-western-wall-prayer-fray/
The Orthodox are Zionists. They will do what the courts say, which have now recognized the women’s rights, and come to an accommodation.
The ultra-Orthodox march to their own drummer, which they are entitled to, as long they don’t infringe on other people’s rights.
Perhaps saying anti-democratic was too strong. They don’t recognize diversity. It’s their way or the highway. In a democracy you have to accommodate others who are not violating any law.
The ultra-Orthodox do not oppose the draft of their young men on the grounds of conscience objection. They see themselves as a special case. The courts have struck down their arguments and in the last election, that was a big issue. They won’t even be asked to go to the army if they don’t want; civil volunteer work will be enough. But they resist that as well.
This is only the second government in the history of the state that they weren’t asked to join. The main parties who joined Netanyahu refused to sit with them mainly because of the issue of the draft.
The ultra-Orthodox are no more than 10 per cent of the population. The more the merrier but they’ll never be more than a small minority.