Yair Golan Rejects Immediate Full Haredi Draft, Calls It Populist Fantasy

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, sparked political controversy by stating that a full draft of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews into the IDF cannot be implemented "tomorrow morning." Speaking at a recent panel at the Molad Institute, Golan criticized the public discourse on Haredi conscription as a victim of cheap populism and argued that the military system is neither capable nor willing to absorb large numbers of Haredi recruits without proper preparation.

Golan emphasized the impracticality of immediately drafting all Haredim, noting the challenges of creating conditions such as gender-segregated units and the fact that many potential recruits lack education, motivation, or physical fitness. He described Haredi conscription as a gradual process, similar to the integration of Arab Israelis and Haredi women into the military.

He proposed a broader vision for equal national service, suggesting that young Israelis contribute a year of service not only in the military but also in civil frameworks like Magen David Adom, firefighting, police, prison services, or hospitals. Golan highlighted that as recruitment cohorts grow annually, the IDF cannot expand proportionally, making alternative service options necessary.

Golan's remarks provoked sharp backlash from right-wing figures, who accused left-wing and certain media outlets of using the "equal burden" campaign as a political tool to weaken Netanyahu's bloc rather than addressing genuine military needs. Critics labeled the push for Haredi conscription as a political maneuver rather than a security imperative.