Meir Porush Launches Sharp Attack on Religious Zionist Party Over Draft Bills

Meir Porush, chairman of the Shlomi Emunim movement, mounted a harsh attack on the Religious Zionist Party on Wednesday evening over its opposition to parts of legislation meant to protect Torah students. In an interview in the Kikar Studio, the Knesset member accused the party’s lawmakers of hypocrisy and said, “It is as if everything is fine with them, as if they all serve 32 months and all the girls serve.”

Porush said the party does not understand that the political left will eventually move to it, not to his camp. He called the Religious Zionist Party “a disgrace” and said it is “a party that barely scrapes past the electoral threshold” but still tries to tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others what to do.

He also invoked a historical rabbinic warning against the Religious Zionist stream. “We all know who they are, we have known this story for 60 years,” he said. “The Brisker Rav did not allow going with the Religious Front because he said, ‘Mizrachi is the worst.’ They will tell you, ‘We are with you,’ and in the end they will hurt you.”

Porush continued his criticism by asking what exactly bothers them, saying they do not object to his camp harming anyone from the settlements. He said what truly bothers them is that ultra-Orthodox families may receive daycare support, and he accused the party of hurting his community at every step. The interview was presented as a live studio segment, with the remarks framed as especially severe.