New Haredi Party Seeks to Draft Religious Men into IDF
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
A new Haredi political party, "The Haredi Public," led by Moti Leitner, is campaigning for the Knesset with a platform advocating for the enlistment of Haredi men not engaged in Torah study into the IDF. Leitner criticizes existing Haredi parties for focusing on internal politics rather than community issues like employment and poverty. The party also includes women on its list and seeks to form a broad unity government. Its success hinges on attracting votes beyond the Haredi sector and surpassing the electoral threshold.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- New Haredi party "The Haredi Public" advocates for drafting non-Torah-studying Haredi men into the IDF.
- Founder Moti Leitner criticizes established Haredi parties for neglecting community issues like poverty and employment.
- The party proposes incentives and removing barriers for Haredi military service, not coercion.
- "The Haredi Public" includes women on its Knesset list, a departure from traditional Haredi parties.
- Leitner aims to attract votes from both Haredi and non-Haredi sectors to cross the electoral threshold.
- The party supports a broad unity government and wishes to join a Netanyahu-led coalition.
A new Haredi political party, "The Haredi Public," is emerging with an unconventional platform that includes encouraging Haredi men who do not study Torah to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The party's founder, Moti Leitner, currently the Deputy Mayor of Beit Shemesh and previously involved in integrating Haredim into employment and academia, stated that he is launching an independent list for the Knesset elections after failing to find a place within established Haredi parties.
Leitner argues that existing Haredi parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism are focused on maintaining the power of established figures rather than addressing critical issues within the Haredi community, such as poverty, employment, education, and national responsibility. He believes the rapidly growing Haredi population, which he estimates will reach 20-30% of Israel's population, requires a shift in norms and a greater assumption of responsibility for the state.
The party's approach to military service emphasizes removing barriers, recognizing existing tracks, strengthening Haredi Hesder yeshivas, expanding options, and offering positive incentives for enlistment, rather than coercion. Leitner claims that thousands of Haredi soldiers could meet the IDF's security needs with minimal effort. The party also distinguishes itself by including women on its list, featuring researcher Dr. Nechumi Yaffe and Ziva Glantz, a move Leitner acknowledges was carefully considered.
Leitner estimates the party could garner two to three Knesset seats from within the Haredi community, with additional potential support from non-Haredi voters who identify with its message of change and broader Israeli societal improvement. He advocates for a broad unity government following recent years of societal division, expressing a desire to join a Netanyahu-led government but insisting it must be inclusive. The party's success will ultimately depend on its ability to cross the electoral threshold and appeal beyond its core Haredi constituency.
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