Haredi MK Denies Eisenkot's Account of Draft Law Meeting
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism denied claims by Gadi Eisenkot about a meeting on the draft law, stating the meeting's outcome was misrepresented. Asher said if Eisenkot's account were true, a 40-minute meeting would have ended in 4 minutes. He also criticized perceived unequal treatment of the Haredi community regarding conscription and sanctions. Meanwhile, the party opened election headquarters and emphasized the importance of yeshiva students.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- MK Yaakov Asher denied Gadi Eisenkot's account of a draft law meeting, stating the content was misrepresented.
- Asher claimed a 40-minute meeting with Eisenkot would have ended in 4 minutes if Eisenkot's stated position was presented.
- Asher criticized the perceived double standard in sanctions against Haredi individuals compared to families of terrorists.
- He asserted that the Haredi community is not treated as equal citizens if they are subject to such measures.
- United Torah Judaism opened election headquarters nationwide, with Asher setting a goal of 70,000 votes in Jerusalem.
- Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman stressed the critical importance of yeshiva students to the community's existence.
United Torah Judaism faction chairman MK Yaakov Asher on Wednesday strongly refuted claims made by Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the 'Yashar' party, regarding a meeting about the draft law. Eisenkot had stated in a prior interview at the same Manufacturers Association conference that he had made it unequivocally clear to a "senior Haredi official," whom journalist Amit Segal identified as MK Moshe Gafni, that he would not agree to any arrangement other than full conscription for all.
Asher, speaking at the conference, acknowledged Eisenkot with respect but asserted that the content of the meeting was misrepresented. "The things he said, and I know this with certainty, were not said in that manner," Asher stated. He added, "If what he said today in the interview was what he said in the meeting, then the meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes, would have ended after 4 minutes."
When asked by Segal if he was accusing Eisenkot of lying, Asher responded humorously, "I'm not saying, I'm telling you facts. I'm quietly leaking to you now, so no one will know."
Asher also drew a parallel between the treatment of the Haredi community and families of terrorists. "I held more than five discussions in the committee on sanctions against the families of terrorists, we sat again and again with legal counsel who was careful to ensure there would be no collective punishment of family members. But when it comes to the Haredi public, suddenly everything is permitted," he said. He continued, "They beat without mercy the wife and children of a Torah scholar whose only sin is that he sits and studies Torah from morning to evening. If you have decided that we are not equal citizens in this country, say it honestly. Say you have given up on us as citizens, and that's it."
In recent days, the United Torah Judaism party has opened its election headquarters across the country. Asher set a goal of 70,000 votes in Jerusalem. Concurrently, Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman met with Knesset members from Degel HaTorah at his residence, emphasizing, "If we don't have yeshiva students, we have nothing."
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