Shas Party Leader Arie Deri: IDF Prefers Secular Soldiers

Arie Deri, chairman of the Shas party, stated on Thursday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) prefers secular soldiers and does not want to recruit Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men.

During an interview with Kol Barama radio, Deri was asked if he would call on those not studying Torah to enlist. He responded that the army, which is capable of bombing Iran, is also capable of handling the issue itself. "The army does not want Haredi soldiers, get that into your head," Deri asserted, adding that the army finds the recruitment of Haredi men to be a significant headache and desires a secular army not beholden to rabbis.

Deri characterized past efforts to recruit Haredim as a "great illusion," suggesting they were ineffective until recent security events revealed the need for more soldiers to guard the borders. He claimed the army had done almost nothing to integrate Haredi soldiers until now.

Deri clarified that decisions regarding military service for Haredim are not his to make but rest with the leadership of the Haredi public. He mentioned existing programs like "Kodkod" but emphasized that any future steps would only occur after the legal status of yeshiva students is settled by their rabbis.