Minister Smotrich Attacked Over Haredi Draft Stance

Social activist and attorney Shevut Ra'anan launched a sharp critique against Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, accusing him of ignoring the need to draft Haredi men into the IDF. Ra'anan's comments came in response to a post by Smotrich on X, where he claimed that accusations of not trying to recruit Haredim stem from a media campaign against him. Ra'anan countered that her own efforts, alongside others, to address the draft law were genuine and not a media stunt, as Smotrich had suggested.

She further alleged that Smotrich's reluctance to engage in dialogue and his inaction on the Haredi draft are rooted in his own "Haredi-like" views. Ra'anan asserted that Smotrich misrepresented the issue of reserve duty burden, stating, "You know that a regular soldier saves seven reservists." She argued that Smotrich could have implemented his platform for reducing reserve duty during the past term if he had been genuinely committed.

Ra'anan referred to Smotrich as "heartless" and accused him of failing to demonstrate leadership regarding security needs and the financial strain on families of conscripted soldiers. She urged him to actively pursue the recruitment of Haredi men in any future government, advocating for a process with personal incentives and funding contingent on actual recruitment rates.

In his interview with Ofra Lax of Makor Rishon, Smotrich had stated that he does advocate for Haredi enlistment and has previously outlined how it should be done. He acknowledged the pain of his constituents and noted that he sent his own two sons to fight, one of whom was wounded. Ra'anan, a co-founder of the Forum of Reservists' Wives, had previously considered voting for a Haredi party.