Liberman Praises Haredi Recruits, Vows Crackdown on Draft Dodgers

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and a Knesset member, visited the Tel Hashomer recruitment center on Sunday to address the issue of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription. Liberman stated that draft dodgers are acting against Judaism, mutual responsibility, and tradition. He emphasized the need to support those who enlist and to deal harshly with draft dodgers and inciters.

"I came to salute those young Haredim who decided to enlist. This is an expression of the principle 'The people of Israel are responsible for one another,' of social solidarity, and this is what we expect from everyone, including those who came to demonstrate," Liberman said. He further asserted that all great figures in Jewish history, from Joshua to King David, were warriors.

Liberman outlined a plan for a future government under his party's influence: "In our government, we will cancel all benefits, all pampering, all budgets for draft dodgers, and transfer them to all those who enlist, to all those who serve. We will ensure that draft dodgers have a criminal record, they will not receive benefits and pensions, they will not be able to obtain a driver's license, they will not be able to travel abroad, they will not be able to be public employees or local government employees, and they will not receive a shekel from the state. We will do everything for those who serve and everything to punish the draft dodgers."