Left Exploits Haredi Draft Issue to Divide Right

The left-wing's campaign for equal draft burden, which included claims that soldiers were falling due to Haredi draft evasion, was cynically built on genuine distress, the article argues. Leaders demanded 100% Haredi enlistment, including Torah scholars, and vowed to dismantle the "Haredi state." Avigdor Lieberman, who previously vowed to drive Haredi Jews to the "garbage dump," now proposes a lenient draft law, with the issue no longer seeming urgent. The Chief of Staff, who previously raised alarms, has fallen silent, as have figures like Bennett, Yair Golan, and Eisenkot, their tones now less decisive.

The campaign strategically targeted the genuine frustration of reservists and their families over the unequal burden, leveraging the high casualty rate among the religious-Zionist community, which has the highest enlistment rate. This political maneuver aimed to fracture the right-wing camp, a goal it largely achieved, as internal disputes continue. Right-wing leaders, in their efforts to find a Haredi draft solution, faced violent protests, internal party conflicts, and alienation from allies, effectively becoming the campaign's most ardent marketers.

Ironically, the right-wing has been instrumental in establishing specific Haredi units within the IDF, such as the Hasmonean Brigade and Netzah Yehuda Battalion, alongside technological roles in intelligence and air force. The left, which once offered Haredim a "blank slate" to dictate terms, now watches with satisfaction as the right loses its unity. The left, which previously protested outside Rabbi Landau's home and scorned Haredim, has shifted its stance significantly now that it requires Haredi support for the next government.

The political system now awaits Rabbi Landau's decision. Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly urging his associates to arrange a meeting to prevent Haredim from joining a left-wing government, while Gadi Eisenkot, tasked with forming a government, is entirely dependent on the Rabbi's choice. Rabbi Landau, who reportedly avoids meeting with officials, is proceeding cautiously, aware of his significant influence. He recalls past grievances, including violent protest suppression, arrests, budget cuts to educational institutions, and threats of further sanctions.

Rabbi Landau may be orchestrating a sophisticated maneuver to expose the left's flexibility and the perceived dishonesty of its election campaign. He could extract substantial concessions, with proposals already emerging for the United Torah Judaism party to receive the Knesset Speaker position. The central question remains whether he will settle for a list of demands to present to the anxious right-wing, or actively join a coalition with the left, potentially enabling policies like public transportation on Shabbat and civil unions in exchange for draft exemptions.

Many on the right have lost patience, angered by the prospect of a left-wing government that could appoint judges aligned with the current Supreme Court's trajectory and be difficult to topple due to potential external support from Arab parties. Counter-voices within the Haredi community urge against supporting a left-wing government, warning of dire consequences for the Jewish state and citing the potential for liberal policies that clash with religious values. The article notes that Haredi leaders are less naive than their religious-Zionist counterparts, demanding explicit legal approvals for draft exemption measures, rather than relying on promises. They are reportedly prioritizing their demands over immediate political gains, such as the Knesset Speaker role, and are aware of their leverage, as the left prioritizes avoiding a unity government with Netanyahu.