Yossi Levi Publicly Backs Smotrich’s Haredi IDF Draft Plan, Urges Broad Political Support

Yossi Levi, CEO of the nonprofit Netzach Yehuda, publicly endorsed the Haredi draft plan presented by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the launch event of the Religious Zionism party’s reservists forum. Levi, whose organization supports the integration of Haredim into the Israel Defense Forces, highlighted that Smotrich is the first party leader to openly commit to fully adopting the plan. He emphasized that the plan is non-political and called on all political parties to support it.

Levi revealed that the plan has significant backing across the political spectrum, including from opposition members such as MK Gadi Eizenkot. Despite this support, Levi sharply criticized the government for delays and lack of funding for Haredi recruitment programs during the ongoing three years of war, calling the draft of Haredim "critically important."

The core of Smotrich’s plan aims to reduce the burden on reservists by expanding the pool of active soldiers, reinstating approximately 50,000 soldiers to active duty, increasing Haredi enlistment, and legislating a Basic Law to ensure that "those who serve receive everything." The goal is to limit reservists to 30 days of service annually by 2027.