Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged that blaming Chareidim for the burden on reservists is “a lie” and that imposing military conscription on the Chareidi public is not a practical solution.
Speaking at the Katif Conference for National Responsibility in Yad Binyamin, Smotrich rejected the claim that the Chareidi public is responsible for the burden placed on IDF reservists, echoing previous statements made by lawmakers and Rabbanim.
“There is no greater lie than saying that the burden on those serving depends on drafting Chareidim,” Smotrich said. “There are over 100,000 reservists who already served in the army, and the army has not succeeded in bringing them back into reserve duty.”
He also warned that arresting bnei yeshivos will not only fail to bring results but would instead deepen divisions within Israeli society. “Arrests cause Jews to physically fight each other on the roads,” he said. “We must recruit Chareidim, but it has to happen through agreement and through a gradual process.”
Smotrich also directed criticism at figures within the national camp, including members of his own party, whom he blamed for preventing the Chareidi draft law from advancing.
“We were on the verge of a historic breakthrough had the draft law passed,” he said. “Unfortunately, purists who wanted 100 percent instead of 90 percent prevented the law from being passed.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
7 Responses
It’s high time, that the dati-leumi understand the situation and come to terms that you can’t criminalise over 1m chareidim and force 100’000 lomdei torah to join the army against the directive of our Gedolim.
Deliberately causing the biggest division within Israel’s Jewish population since its founding, will bring no good to anyone and anything!
In parsha devorim, Moshe inserts discussion about selecting judges in the middle of thte narrative. R Soloveitchik explains that establishing justice is a prerequisite to entering EY.
Shevatim who tried to stay behind with their flocks (and, presumably, learning) tell the same story.
So, yes, Israelis who serve feel injustice and it needs to be addressed. If you don’t like who it is being addressed – propose your own way. Start with davening for chayalim and supporting them in any practical ways you can. Maybe even lonely chayalim for shabbos.
nonsense beno shel nonsense
DrAmalek is disheartened that even his Camp is admitting the truth and now he has no Heroes left to turn to. Who will hate the Torah with you now. I’m sure you could work for channel 12 they love traitors like you
AAQ:
This is YWN, not Maskilic World News; his philosophies aren’t relevant to Klal Yisrael unless there happens to be some source in chazal for what he claims. See the Baal HaTurim for an actual explanation of why Moshe Rabbeinu mentioned that.
So, no, it is the chareidim who are the victims of grave injustice by the Zionists in being forcibly impoverished by the Zionists due to the Zionists not allowing the chareidim to work – unlike in every normal country worldwide – and by the wicked Zionists reneging on their deal with Agudah not to protest against them at the UN in return for yeshiva students not being drafted.
Kotn, this is yeshiva wn, not your particular belief wn, so quoting acknowledged talmidei chachamim should be appropriate, even if other talmidei chachamim disagree. Gemorah doesn’t censor beis shammai. And as if there is anything modernishe in this perush anyway, you just needed outlet for your venom today.
@Hakatan What are you talking about? Go to Lakewood. Most men don’t start working till after the age of 26. They are doing just fine.
As for what Smoltrich said, it’s a weird whataboutism. There were 350k reservists who served. 100k of them were parents. How many more men should we expect to leave their families and businesses?