Likud MK Dan Illouz Criticizes Netanyahu Over Draft and Arrest Laws

Likud Member of Knesset Dan Illouz sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday regarding his stance on the controversial arrest law and plans to promote a new military draft law in the next government. Illouz accused Netanyahu of previously supporting laws that enable draft evasion and now adopting a contradictory position, which Illouz described as condescending to voters. He claimed Netanyahu repeatedly yielded to ultra-Orthodox demands and suggested the Prime Minister's recent private briefings opposing the arrest law and promising a draft law meeting IDF needs are misleading. Illouz, who has been involved in the struggle against draft evasion, stated Netanyahu actively pushed for such laws in the past and only opposition from those resisting concessions to the ultra-Orthodox prevented their approval. Warning that Netanyahu's attitude risks further damaging Likud's standing, Illouz said, "This condescension toward voters and treating them as fools will only worsen Likud's situation." He concluded by condemning the implications of voting for Likud, asserting it equates to endorsing a sellout to the ultra-Orthodox, blanket draft exemptions during wartime, and the collapse of the IDF and economy, with Aryeh Deri and Eli Goldknopf holding senior ministerial positions.