New Haredi Party Challenges Status Quo on Draft, Economy
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
A new Haredi party, the Haredi Public Party led by Motty Leitner, is challenging established ultra-Orthodox political factions by advocating for conscription and core curriculum studies. The article argues that the current Haredi model is financially unsustainable and faces a looming crisis, drawing parallels to the Histadrut's struggles in the 1990s. The upcoming elections will test whether the Haredi public is ready for a change in approach to economic and security responsibilities.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A new Haredi party led by Motty Leitner challenges established factions on draft and economic issues.
- The current Haredi societal model is deemed financially unsustainable and faces a looming crisis.
- Haredi parties are delaying decisions on conscription and budget cuts, leaving challenges for the next government.
- The Haredi Public Party advocates for conscription and core curriculum studies for greater economic responsibility.
- The upcoming elections will show if the Haredi public is ready for significant change.
Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) political parties are delaying decisions on conscription and economic issues, facing a looming crisis. A new party founded by Motty Leitner, the Haredi Public Party, aims to introduce changes that the established Haredi leadership has resisted. The article draws a parallel between the current situation of Haredi society and the Histadrut labor federation in the 1990s, both powerful entities facing financial unsustainability despite their political clout.
The Haredi community, particularly the Ashkenazi branches (Hasidic and Lithuanian), struggles to address issues beyond their immediate communities. The Sephardi Shas party, post-Ovadia Yosef, also faces challenges adapting its model. The current system, reliant on non-Haredi taxpayers, is unsustainable as Haredi children are projected to become the largest elementary school cohort within five years, many lacking job-market-ready skills.
The government has avoided confronting these issues, leaving the next administration to deal with a difficult budget and the Haredi draft and economic challenges. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich did not achieve Haredi conscription and deferred significant payments to defense industries, contributing to a growing deficit. The next government will face billions in necessary budget cuts, which Haredi parties are unlikely to support if they impact their constituents.
Motty Leitner's Haredi Public Party advocates for Haredi conscription, core curriculum studies, and greater economic responsibility. Leitner, drawing parallels to Chaim Ramon's reforms of the Histadrut, seeks to change the system from within, warning that inaction could lead to budget cuts and a marginalized Haredi population. The upcoming elections will reveal if a significant portion of the Haredi public is ready for such a shift.
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