Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to the announcement from Shas and United Torah Judaism, saying: "It takes an infinite amount of audacity from Shas and United Torah Judaism parties to issue a statement talking about 'political games on the backs of those serving' and 'cynical exploitation of families' pain.'" Lapid added that the "IDF has hundreds of casualties in this war, every morning we all wake up to 'cleared for publication' announcements, but their voters sleep peacefully. They are the only ones playing a political game here, they are the ones who continue to encourage draft dodging, discriminate between blood and blood, extort budgets and avoid defending the country during days of terrible war."