Commentator Slams 'Hypocrisy' on Ultra-Orthodox Draft Law

Political commentator Mati Tuchfeld has sharply criticized the "change bloc" for their perceived hypocrisy regarding the ultra-Orthodox draft law, particularly after the recent elections. Tuchfeld argued on Radio Tzafon that this bloc previously demonized the ultra-Orthodox community and the draft issue, but their stance shifted dramatically once forming a government became a possibility.

He accused the bloc of campaigning on the issue of draft evasion, claiming it was the primary problem for the IDF after October 7th. However, Tuchfeld stated that immediately after the election results were clear, the same issue was reframed from a "draft evasion law" or "exemption law" to a "softened draft law," implying a willingness to compromise significantly in favor of the ultra-Orthodox, even more than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had proposed.

Tuchfeld asserted that the "change bloc" knew that the path to ousting Netanyahu involved leveraging the ultra-Orthodox issue. He highlighted the perceived contradiction: when Netanyahu sought solutions, they were labeled as "draft evasion," but when the "change bloc" adopted similar solutions, they were deemed acceptable.

Looking ahead, Tuchfeld predicted that Gadi Eisenkot would likely receive the mandate to form a government. He outlined potential coalition scenarios for Eisenkot, including forming a government reliant on Arab parties or one with Ra'am and United Torah Judaism as a safety net, suggesting that Eisenkot would face challenges in assembling a stable coalition.