Lieberman Reverses Stance on Haredi Draft, Willing to Compromise

By יצחק טסלר

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

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Hebrew · 16 newsrooms covering

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, has reversed his long-standing opposition to Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) military conscription, stating he is willing to compromise to form a government. Previously, Lieberman vehemently opposed draft exemptions for Haredi men, calling them a "betrayal of soldiers" and vowing not to join governments that included Haredi parties. His recent shift, particularly after the October 7th attacks, emphasizes the need for universal conscription and proposes sanctions against draft dodgers. This change mirrors potential shifts by other politicians who previously held similar stances.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Avigdor Lieberman is now willing to compromise on Haredi military conscription to form a government.
Lieberman previously called Haredi draft exemptions a "betrayal of soldiers."
He vowed Yisrael Beiteinu would not join governments including Haredi parties.
Lieberman intensified calls for Haredi conscription after the October 7th attacks.
He proposed sanctions against Haredi draft dodgers, including benefit cuts.
Other politicians have also made strong past statements against Haredi exemptions.

Lieberman Reverses Stance on Haredi Draft, Willing to Compromise — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has declared his willingness to form a government with Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties and to compromise on the issue of military conscription. This represents a significant shift from his long-held positions, where he was a staunch opponent of exemptions for Haredi men and often clashed with Haredi political leaders.

Lieberman's past statements have been highly critical of the Haredi community's exemption from military service. In 2018, as Defense Minister, he threatened to resign over a draft exemption law, calling it a "fake law" and a "betrayal of soldiers." He repeatedly stated that Yisrael Beiteinu would not join any government that included Haredi parties, emphasizing that his party would not compromise on the issue of drafting yeshiva students, even at the cost of new elections. He also advocated for cutting child allowances for large families and integrating Haredim into the workforce.

Following the October 7th Hamas attack and amid the ongoing war, Lieberman intensified his calls for Haredi conscription, citing a severe shortage of combat soldiers and the heavy burden on reservists. He declared that "there are no more exemptions" and that "everyone must be drafted." He proposed sanctions against draft dodgers, including the denial of benefits and employment opportunities, and suggested that yeshivas would not receive funding for students who evade service.

Despite his strong past rhetoric, Lieberman's recent statements suggest a pragmatic approach aimed at ending Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure as Prime Minister. He indicated a readiness to be flexible, stating, "We will be flexible and compromise, also on the issue of conscription." This change in stance echoes similar shifts by other politicians who have previously opposed concessions to the Haredi sector.

The article notes that other political figures, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and Yair Golan, have also made strong statements against Haredi draft exemptions and benefits in the past, leaving open the question of whether they too will alter their positions to form a new government.