Smotrich Candidate Clashes With Reservist Over Gaza Victory, Draft Law
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Itamar Eitam, a candidate supported by Bezalel Smotrich, declared victory in Gaza and argued with a reservist who disagreed. Eitam later stated that passing an ultra-Orthodox draft law depends on the next coalition's makeup. He indicated that the current coalition's continuation with ultra-Orthodox parties is the most likely scenario, posing challenges for the draft law. The event focused on the draft law and the war's progress.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Itamar Eitam, Smotrich's candidate, declared victory in Gaza and argued with a reservist.
- Eitam stated that advancing an ultra-Orthodox draft law depends on the next coalition.
- A reservist challenged Eitam's claim of victory in Gaza after three years of war.
- Eitam suggested the current coalition's continuation with ultra-Orthodox parties is likely.
- This political scenario presents challenges for enacting an effective draft law.
A heated exchange erupted at a gathering of reservists when Itamar Eitam, a candidate backed by Bezalel Smotrich, declared Israel had won in Gaza and confronted a reservist who disputed the claim. Eitam asserted that the war in Gaza had been decisively won, stating, "We won, and how we won. There is still a lot of work, but to say we did not win. Where have you been? You don't know what you're talking about." The questioner, who had served hundreds of days in reserve duty since October 7 and fought in Gaza, challenged Eitam's assertion that Israel had not won after three years of conflict.
Later in the event, Eitam acknowledged that the advancement of a conscription law for the ultra-Orthodox is contingent on the composition of the next coalition government. When pressed by a participant about what would be different in the next term, given that the ultra-Orthodox parties are unlikely to support a conscription law, Eitam explained that it depends heavily on the political strength and coalition makeup. He presented two main political scenarios: a minority government supported by Mansour Abbas and the Democrats, or the continuation of the current coalition. Eitam expressed dissatisfaction with the current government and lamented the absence of figures like Liberman, Bennett, and Yashar, suggesting they might have enabled different outcomes. He emphasized that his party is committed to the draft law, but its success depends on their influence within the coalition, stating, "The more power we have within the coalition, the more we can do."
Eitam's remarks indicated that the political options for his party are limited, with the most likely scenario being the continuation of the current coalition, including the ultra-Orthodox parties. This political reality, he suggested, would present significant challenges to enacting an effective conscription law in the coming years. The exchange highlighted the ongoing tensions surrounding the draft law and the political complexities involved in its implementation.
Mentioned
