United Torah Judaism Chairman Yitzhak Asher said at Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth's 'The People of the State' conference that "they are trying to turn the Haredi public into a demon, a fifth column. There is one dispute between us and the rest of the public regarding the question of whether Torah is needed, and whether this will come at the expense of conscription. That's fine. Our reasons are faith-based reasons." According to him, "I very much respect the Arab public, they educate not to go to the army because of nationalism, not because of religion. The Haredim are a demon, as if we are some branch of Islamic Jihad. You will dismantle the state this way."