Netanyahu Criticizes Military Arrests of Yeshiva Students
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the military police's arrest of yeshiva students, calling it an attempt to sabotage voluntary Haredi army recruitment. He stressed the importance of preserving the Torah world, which he believes has historically supported the Jewish people. Netanyahu expressed optimism about passing a conscription law in the next Knesset to ensure a fairer distribution of military service, while remaining non-committal on the timing of its passage.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the military police's arrest of yeshiva students.
- Netanyahu called the arrests a deliberate attempt to undermine voluntary Haredi army recruitment.
- He stated, "We must preserve the world of Torah because it preserved us."
- Netanyahu expressed confidence a conscription law could pass in the next Knesset.
- He remained non-committal on passing a conscription law before the next government is sworn in.
- Netanyahu dismissed the possibility of a plea bargain in his legal cases.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticized the military police for arresting yeshiva students, calling it a deliberate attempt to undermine the process of recruiting Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) into the army without coercion. Speaking on Kol Barama radio, Netanyahu stated, "It is unacceptable. We must preserve the world of Torah because it preserved us." He added that the arrests were intended to harm the voluntary recruitment efforts.
Netanyahu acknowledged the frustration and pain expressed by prominent rabbis regarding his failure to regulate the status of yeshiva students, noting that a draft law was narrowly defeated in the previous Knesset. He expressed confidence that such legislation could be passed in the next term, establishing a new balance between Haredim and secular Israelis and ensuring a shared burden. "This is a law that gives us both the world of Torah, which I respect greatly, and also ensures the redistribution of the burden," he said.
When asked about the Haredi parties' demand to pass a conscription law before the next government is sworn in, Netanyahu was non-committal, stating, "I wish we could do it. Can we do it before the government is established? Who knows? It depends on goodwill, understanding, and cooperation."
He also addressed the possibility of Haredi parties cooperating with Gadi Eisenkot, stating he found it hard to believe and hoped such a phenomenon would be marginal. Netanyahu emphasized the deep connection between the Haredi and religious Zionist communities, asserting that they are united by Jewish heritage and a shared destiny, with the alternative being "terrible."
During the interview, Netanyahu also dismissed the possibility of a plea bargain in his ongoing legal cases, stating, "It is not an option and never was an option."
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