Shas Party Leader Accuses IDF of Reluctance to Draft Ultra-Orthodox Men
Aryeh Deri, chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, stated Thursday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) does not genuinely desire to integrate young Haredi men into its ranks. "The army is not truly interested in enlisting the Orthodox," Deri said in an interview with Haredi radio station Kol Barama. He asserted that the responsibility for recruiting young men who do not study Torah falls directly on the IDF.
Deri's remarks come amid a heated debate in Israel over the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox population, a highly sensitive political issue. Several political parties are pushing for legislation that would require all draft-eligible young men to participate in national service. Conversely, ultra-Orthodox parties advocate for maintaining exemptions for yeshiva students.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between secular and religious segments of Israeli society regarding military service obligations.
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