Shas Party Recommends Netanyahu, Herzog Presses on Draft Law

Representatives from the Shas party met with President Yitzhak Herzog on Wednesday as part of consultations for forming the next government, recommending that the mandate be given to Benjamin Netanyahu. During the meeting, the party called for the establishment of a unity government, but the primary focus of the discussion was the issue of drafting Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) into the military, public attitudes towards Torah scholars, and the perceived gaps between the Haredi and general Israeli societies.

Shas delegation members, including Yinon Azulai, Michael Malchieli, Yoav Ben Tzur, Chaim Biton, and Dror Amos, voiced concerns about the treatment of the Haredi public. Malchieli protested what he described as incitement against the Haredi community, stating, "It is inconceivable that a tribe of Israel should experience such incitement. I call for this to stop; Torah scholars must be protected."

President Herzog posed pointed questions to the Shas representatives regarding the draft issue. He sought to understand the perceived contradiction between Torah study and military service and inquired how Shas explains the low voting rates among IDF soldiers for the party. MK Yinon Azulai responded that the party aims to protect the ability of yeshiva students to continue their studies while maintaining respect for IDF soldiers. He clarified that the party's goal is for those studying in yeshivas to do so without interruption, with great respect for soldiers, and refuted the notion that the Haredi community universally refuses to enlist, calling it "consciousness engineering."

Azulai also addressed the differences between the Haredi and Religious Zionist communities concerning conscription and the authority of their respective rabbis. Yoav Ben Tzur highlighted the Haredi community's contributions, stating it is the largest volunteering sector in Israeli society.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Shas delegation recommended that President Herzog task Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the government and urged the formation of a broad unity government. Unlike the Religious Zionist delegation, which met with the president earlier, the Shas representatives left the President's Residence without issuing statements to the press.