UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf spoke about the Chareidi draft law crisis in an interview with the Religious Zionist Makor Rishon newspaper.
When asked if he understands the pain of the reservists who are leaving for another round of reserve duty, Goldknopf responded, “I don’t understand; I didn’t decide he needs to go. If this person decided that this is his way and he wants to go, then he goes. Don’t transfer the pain [of the Religious Zionists] to the Chareidim. Each sector has their own burden.”
Makor Rishon: “Isn’t this a mandatory war?”
Goldknopf: “I was told that there are 100,000 draft dodgers in Tel Aviv, in the Gush Dan area.”
“I don’t suggest anyone arrest talmidei yeshivos,” Goldknopf continued. “It will cause an upheaval to Am Yisrael and the whole world. I don’t suggest anyone in the State of Israel to act in these ways. It’s a breaking of all conventions and crossing a red line.”
Regarding the sanctions against bnei yeshivos, he said, “If there is no choice and they have to leave the country, then they will leave the country. There will be a state without Chareidim. The Chareidim will not change their lifestyle because there is an army and a war. There is an army, and there are also those who will go to the army. If you say you are missing 50,000 soldiers, take those who evade the draft. I’m not talking about Chareidim.”
Regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu, he said, “If he wanted to and had put his weight behind it like other things, there would be a draft law. When the prime minister wants something, he enters a room and sits everyone around one table and reaches a compromise.”
“If Netanyahu wants us next time, he will have to prove so by his actions even before the government is formed. I can’t come today and say that Netanyahu promises—which of the Rabbanim will buy that?”
“Have you closed the door on Netanyahu?”
Goldknopf: “I don’t close or open doors. We are committed to our public, and whoever knows how to obtain what our public asks for will get us. Whoever only knows how to say and say, then let him suffice with saying it to someone else. In the meantime, Netanyahu in this term has only said.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
There were some other fascinating quotes reported elsewhere:
“When asked about his opinion on the religious Zionist community, which has a significantly higher number of IDF casualties than their demographic weighting, Goldknopf responded, “Their pain is theirs, and our pain is ours. Don’t bring me your pain and pass it on to me. Let’s decide on our own terms, each with our own priorities.””
“When asked if the UTJ chairman understood the pain of a father called up for reserves who now has to leave his family, Goldknopf responded, “I don’t understand. I didn’t decide that he had to leave. If he decided that this was his path and he wants to leave, then he’s leaving.”
It is painful to read these quotes. Mamash as if there is no achrayus to anyone in klal Yisrael who is not chareidi. Not even to express empathy. Lo aleinu that this is the representation of the “olam hatorah”. Oy tatte.
I am literally at a loo for words. This is the representative of a group that styles themselves as חרדים לדבר ה’? Apparently he was not paying attention when they taught מה הוא רחום – אף אתה רחום – or the concept of עמו אנוכי בצרה.
Wow – just wow…
an Israeli Yid
I have been a veterinarian in Israel for more than forty years. I have never see such a בהמה as this.