Yair Golan Criticizes Political Exploitation of Ultra-Orthodox Military Conscription Debate

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, sharply criticized the political manipulation surrounding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews into the Israeli military. Speaking at a panel held about a month ago at the Mold Institute, Golan described the issue as a victim of "cheap populism" and warned about the practical challenges of integrating thousands of ultra-Orthodox recruits who require special conditions such as gender separation and extensive support from the start.

Golan emphasized that passing any new conscription law would not resolve the structural problems on the ground. He highlighted the difficulties posed by the ultra-Orthodox community’s characteristics in a military context, including gaps in education, motivation, and physical ability. He stated, "Even if a perfect law is passed tomorrow morning, thousands of recruits will still need gender-segregated conditions."

He proposed a broader model of mandatory service or national service for all young people aged 18 or 19, regardless of background, to ensure that every youth contributes at least one year to the country. Golan argued against expanding the military size to match the recruitment pool, calling it unrealistic. His comments reflect a call for a more inclusive and practical approach to national service rather than focusing solely on ultra-Orthodox conscription.