Ultra-Orthodox Party Demands Conscription Law Exemption to Join Government

A faction within the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party is strengthening its opposition to joining Prime Minister Netanyahu's government unless a law exempting yeshiva students from military conscription is passed. MK Yitzhak Pindrus stated in an interview on October 15 that UTJ is unwilling to renew its alliance with the Likud party if the conscription law issue remains unresolved. Pindrus emphasized that the conscription law is the most critical issue for his party, stating, "The fate of the government depends on the fate of the law." He expressed a desire to ensure that young ultra-Orthodox men would not be considered draft dodgers in the future, acknowledging the need for divine assistance but also highlighting lessons learned from past political experiences.

Pindrus criticized past political figures, including Yuli Edelstein and Galant, for what he perceived as betrayals regarding the advancement of the conscription exemption bill. He declared that UTJ's condition for entering any government would be the prior passage of this law. Additionally, Pindrus voiced criticism of the current government's judicial reform initiated in January 2023, noting that "the greatest Torah scholars do not approve of it."

Addressing the emergence of competing ultra-Orthodox parties, Pindrus argued that they misunderstand the core conflict, suggesting that assimilation into broader Israeli society would mean ceasing to be ultra-Orthodox. He stated that his party prioritizes laws that do not impede Torah study. Pindrus also credited his party with securing state funding for yeshivas and religious institutions but suggested the current government lacks divine favor, partly due to the election of Amir Ohana, an openly gay man, as Knesset Speaker. Pindrus described Ohana's election as sacrilege and a desecration of God's name, stating his faction did not receive rabbinical permission to support him.