(Photo Credit: The Cradle) The widening schism between Israel’s secular and ultra-Orthodox communities impacts not only the state’s military and economic wellbeing, but poses an existential threat to the stability of the entire Zionist project. By Robert Inlakesh Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, known as the Haredim, is the fastest-growing segment of the country’s population. This demographic shift is occurring amid escalating tensions between secular right-wing and religious-nationalist factions in Israel, raising concerns about the stability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist coalition – particularly over contentious issues like Haredi military conscription. Projected to constitute approximately 16 percent of the occupation state’s population by … Continue reading An ultra-Orthodox ultimatum, and the future of the ‘Jewish’ state