Feiglin Slams Winter's 'Leftist' Tactics on Haredi Draft Law

Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Zehut party, launched a sharp attack on retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter, criticizing Winter's stated condition for joining any future coalition: advancing a law for the conscription of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men.

Feiglin accused Winter of adopting the "hate speech" of the left, likening his approach to that of former politicians Ehud Barak and Yair Lapid, who he claims used the Haredi draft issue for political gain without offering practical solutions. Feiglin argued that the current debate over Haredi conscription is merely a political tool.

Instead of focusing on the Haredi draft, Feiglin proposed that the army should reinstate 100,000 soldiers released by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot to address personnel shortages. He stated that while Haredi enlistment is necessary, it should not be pursued through "political maneuvering" on an issue that has persisted since the state's inception and is unrelated to the current war.

Feiglin also criticized Winter's aspirations for a senior security role, asserting that the primary focus of the upcoming elections should be preventing future disasters. He concluded by stating that while he would like to see Winter in a unified technical bloc, the position of Defense Minister requires a leader prioritizing Israel's security and national unity over "cheap populism" fueled by animosity towards the Haredi community.