Netanyahu Clarifies Stance on Haredi Draft, Sparking Political Firestorm

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his position on the military draft for the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, stating that those who do not study Torah should enlist in the army, and those who refuse to enlist will face imprisonment. The clarification came after an interview on the Haredi radio station Kol Barama, where Netanyahu also expressed opposition to the arrest of yeshiva students, emphasizing the importance of preserving Torah study while asserting that non-students must serve. He suggested that the arrests were an attempt to undermine the process of voluntary Haredi enlistment.

Netanyahu's remarks ignited a fierce backlash from opposition leaders, who accused him of encouraging draft evasion in exchange for political support. Opposition leader Yair Lapid claimed Netanyahu revealed a "disgusting deal" with Haredi parties for draft exemption in return for political backing, warning of severe economic consequences. Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman echoed these sentiments, labeling the situation a "deal for power" and accusing Netanyahu of being a "hostage to draft dodgers."

In response to the criticism, the Likud party issued a strong statement, dismissing the opposition's claims as "fake news" and a "fabricated storm." The party asserted that Netanyahu's consistent stance is that Haredim must enlist and that those who refuse will be imprisoned. Likud contrasted their plan to draft 23,000 Haredim over three years with the opposition's alleged proposal to draft only 5,000, accusing them of offering full exemptions to Haredi parties in exchange for toppling Netanyahu.

The Likud statement also attacked opposition leaders, accusing them of collaborating with figures like Ahmad Tibi and Mansour Abbas, whom they described as supporters of terrorism and critics of the IDF. The party questioned why the opposition remained silent on these alleged statements while criticizing Netanyahu's draft remarks.

Simultaneously, over 25 students from the Chabad Hasidic community were detained at Ben Gurion Airport upon their return to Israel, identified as draft dodgers. The Prime Minister also addressed concerns about potential Haredi alliances with Gadi Eisenkot, expressing disbelief that such a move would gain traction within the community due to shared heritage and a common destiny.