Shas Party Defends Aryeh Deri's Remarks on IDF Draft

The Shas party on Thursday explained remarks made by its chairman, Aryeh Deri, who stated he did not need to call on Haredim to enlist in the IDF, saying "the army can deal with it." The party clarified that Deri meant that after the legal status of yeshiva students is regulated, those who do not study will be drafted anyway, thus his call would be unnecessary. Despite Deri's statement, Shas will continue its campaign embracing soldiers.

The party believes the controversy will not significantly harm them politically, citing the remaining time until elections and the familiarity of potential voters with Deri's past controversial statements. Deri's original comments came during an interview with Kol Barama radio, where he responded to a question about calling on non-Torah students to enlist by saying, "The army that knows how to bomb in Iran also knows how to deal with it, let it deal with it. The army does not want Haredi soldiers."

Reactions were swift and critical. Yishai Baruch, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, attacked Deri, stating, "Aryeh, it's over. This time you will deal with it. The IDF and its soldiers have been dealing with it for years. If you were connected to the people of Israel and the State of Israel, you would know very well how much they are dealing with it." He added that "mass and irresponsible draft evasion under the auspices of the Israeli government will end. Those who sit in the security cabinet and send the best sons and daughters of this country will be people with the right values and heart, with responsibility, with a true understanding of the costs of service and the willingness to sacrifice."

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also criticized Deri, asserting, "Aryeh Deri cannot sit in another Israeli government. The IDF is crying out for soldiers, and Deri is lying and making excuses."