Orthodox Leader Rejects IDF Conscription, Defends Sectarian Representation
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Yitzhak Goldknopf, president of the Orthodox Agoudat Yisrael party, rejected mandatory military service for the ultra-Orthodox and advocated for societal separation ahead of Israeli elections. He stated his community would determine its own educational content and that women are not represented in ultra-Orthodox parties. His remarks on conscription and shared responsibilities drew criticism from other political figures. The interview highlights ongoing debates about religious autonomy and civic obligations in Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yitzhak Goldknopf rejected mandatory IDF conscription for ultra-Orthodox men, citing no need for their enlistment.
- Goldknopf asserted his community's right to define its own educational content, resisting imposed curricula.
- He stated women are not represented in ultra-Orthodox parties, not calling for a general exclusion from parliament.
- Goldknopf predicted separate states for the ultra-Orthodox and secular populations in Israel.
- His comments came days before Israeli legislative elections and drew criticism from other politicians.
Two days before Israeli legislative elections, Yitzhak Goldknopf, president of the Orthodox Agoudat Yisrael party, expressed a firm stance on his community's role in Israeli society. In an interview with Channel 13, Goldknopf criticized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and its chief of staff, rejecting any mandatory military service for the ultra-Orthodox. He also advocated for a separation between religious and secular populations.
Regarding conscription, Goldknopf stated there is no need to recruit ultra-Orthodox young men and that he would never ask them to enlist in the IDF, despite reported personnel needs. This position comes as the military service of the ultra-Orthodox is a major political flashpoint, especially since the October 7, 2023 attacks. The traditional exemptions for yeshiva students are central to debates on military obligation equality.
Goldknopf also asserted his community's right to self-determination in educational content, stating, "Only we will determine what the fundamental teachings are," challenging imposed curricula that include general subjects. His remarks on women's representation were contextualized as referring to their exclusion from ultra-Orthodox political parties, which do not traditionally field female candidates for legislative elections, rather than a call for all women to be barred from the Knesset.
He further elaborated on societal divisions, stating, "There will be a state for the ultra-Orthodox here and a state for the secular," highlighting deep disagreements on religion, education, and civic duties. These comments drew criticism from politicians like Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Avigdor Liberman, particularly concerning conscription and shared military responsibilities. The interview brings the issue of coexistence between differing conceptions of the Israeli state to the forefront ahead of the October 27 election.
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