IDF Senior Officer Criticizes Haredi Parties Over Draft Exemption Demands

A senior IDF officer has sharply criticized the Haredi leadership, particularly Shas and United Torah Judaism, for demanding a law exempting yeshiva students from military service as a condition for joining a future coalition. The officer stated that Haredi parties must decide whether they want to resolve the draft crisis or use it as a political tool. He noted that Haredi representatives had participated in discussions with the IDF, heard the army's needs, received data, and understood the situation, acknowledging that the army requires soldiers and that integration is possible while preserving the Haredi way of life through dedicated frameworks.

However, the officer lamented that outside the committee room, the discourse shifts to a political campaign. Instead of collaborating on solutions for integrating more Haredi men into service, the focus becomes preventing conscription, with a blanket exemption demanded as a political prerequisite. This, he argued, transforms security needs into bargaining chips, ignoring the burden on current soldiers and the army's manpower shortage.

The issue of drafting yeshiva students is a highly contentious point that could determine the fate of the next government. The spiritual leader of Shas, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, reiterated the party's demand for a coalition to be formed only after the status of yeshiva students is guaranteed. He also directly criticized Gadi Eisenkot and addressed internal criticism within the Haredi public, asserting that aligning with the Likud is the safer option compared to a left-wing government.

While United Torah Judaism officially maintains a united front, demanding a full exemption law, internal divisions are emerging. A source from the Gur Hasidic community suggested that the Rebbe of Gur, Yaakov Aryeh Alter, is determined to bring down Prime Minister Netanyahu at any cost, potentially instructing MK Goldknoff not to oppose a minority government. However, MK Goldknoff denied this, stating Agudat Yisrael would not support or assist any government without resolving the status of yeshiva students and enacting a draft law without sanctions or quotas.

The IDF officer expressed frustration with the disconnect between professional discussions and public political stances, emphasizing that it hinders cooperation. He stressed that while the army invests resources in creating tailored service paths for the Haredi community, demanding a blanket exemption is contradictory. The real question, he concluded, is whether Haredi parties are willing to take responsibility for the nation's security needs, advocating for a law with actual soldiers, targets, timelines, and enforcement, rather than treating the IDF as just another player in coalition negotiations.

Conversely, Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, presented a different perspective, emphasizing that while preserving Jewish law is paramount, separation does not mean alienation. He believes that while those dedicated solely to Torah study should be protected, others who do not study full-time must take responsibility and enlist in adapted security service roles. Leitner proposed the establishment of an entire Haredi division within the security forces, alongside other tailored tracks, to safeguard both the world of Torah and the State of Israel, pledging to work towards this in the next government.