New Haredi Party Challenges Old Leadership with Integration and Military Service Platform
A new Haredi political party called "The Haredi Public" was launched this week in Beit Shemesh by Motty Leitner, a 33-year-old software engineer and deputy mayor representing working Haredim. The party criticizes the established Haredi political leadership, particularly Shas and United Torah Judaism, for failing to deliver meaningful achievements and focusing solely on the "we will die rather than enlist" principle. The new party aims to represent the growing demographic of Haredim disillusioned with the traditional political establishment and advocates full integration of the Haredi community into Israeli society, including military service, employment, and education reforms.
Leitner emphasized that "responsibility" is a supreme Jewish value neglected by the old leadership, which remains detached from reality amid ongoing security challenges and social crises affecting the Haredi community. He warned of a dangerous confrontation between the Haredi society and the broader Israeli public, fueled by extremist factions influencing the current Haredi parties. The new party proposes creating a dedicated Haredi division within the IDF to accommodate those who do not pursue Torah study as their profession.
The party’s success in entering the Knesset hinges on whether it includes women candidates, as women constitute the majority of Haredi academic students and primary family breadwinners. The launch event was held discreetly due to fears of extremist disruptions and included a diverse attendance of Haredi men and women. Leitner called for a new political model that embraces Israeli reality rather than opposing it, promising to address issues like military conscription, poverty, and discrimination.
The emergence of "The Haredi Public" signals a potential shift in Haredi politics, offering an alternative to the old guard and appealing to voters seeking pragmatic solutions and greater integration with Israeli society. The party’s slogan, "Those who study will continue without interruption; those who do not will serve in the Haredi IDF division," encapsulates its platform and challenge to the status quo.
