Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel were staging a protest Thursday over what they feel is the intervention of the Israeli state into religious affairs, police told CNN.

The protesters dislike a ruling by Israel's Supreme court that orders the jailing of parents of European, or Ashkenazi, background for refusing to send their daughters to a school with Sephardic girls, those from the Middle East.

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From CNN Senior National Editor Dave Schechter:

Debate among American Jews about the proper relationship between the United States and Israel is often reasoned but often impolite. E-mail traffic and online comments can be venomous, rejecting the idea that an American Jew can support Israel while being critical of its actions or policies.

This is an intramural debate with ramifications beyond its participants. Israel counts on American Jews to help maintain U.S. support for Israel politically and—through foreign aid programs—a military edge over its potential foreign foes.

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