MK Eichler
Photo: Knesset website
Yair Lapid
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Haredi MK: We will defeat enemies of Israel's soul
United Torah Judaism chair says Lapid seeks way out due to dwindling popularity, urges to cancel general conscription, make IDF professional military
The lack of response by the religious parties, Shas
and United Torah Judaism
, to the controversy surrounding the government attempts to formulate a universal conscription bill represents, according to some sources, a carefully thought out tactical choice – the haredi legislators allegedly want the brouhaha to die down, waiting for the public to turn against Finance Minister Yair Lapid's
unpopular austerity measures.
"After the previous mistakes we have committed vis-à-vis Lapid, this time we decided to, figuratively speaking, join a Trappist monastery," said a haredi source. "We have no interest in playing into his hands. We should let the controversy surrounding the enlistment of haredim quiet down, go off the public agenda, so that the media goes back as soon as possible to deal with the budget and economic measures, and attack Lapid without mercy as it did in recent weeks."
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- Peri Committee deadlocked
- Mofaz slams Ya'alon over draft bill crisis
Among the few who did respond to the reports regarding the stalemate at the Peri Committee was Knesset Member Israel Eichler of United Torah Judaism, who reiterated his call to turn the IDF into a professional military. "Those who really care about security must enlist only soldiers actually suitable to fighting - as decided by the security officials rather than the secular cultural commissars," he said.
"Universal conscription would be a burden on all the fighting forces. Billions will be spent on soldiers who contribute nothing to national security. Only the elimination of general conscription would dismantle the demagogic platform of the enemies of haredim seeking to use the army to wage war against the Jewish culture. We won the culture war and will win the one against the enemies of Israel's soul."
Later Monday UTJ chair Yakov Litzman said "I guess the finance minister feels he has lost the people. He feels that his voters left him, and polls show it, so he is looking for an excuse to escape so he won't have to implement his measures against the people, especially those who voted for him."
"So I, firstly I'm glad he wants to leave, and secondly, it opens the door to changes in both the equal burden bill and his other decrees as well," he added.
The Peri Committee remains deadlocked over a disagreement between committee chairman, Science and Technology Minister Yaakov Peri and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, regarding the protocol for granting exemption from IDF service.
In a surprise move, Ya'alon demanded that the committee withdraw its proposal to obligate haredim to enlist after a three-year period and demanded that the issue be left to the defense minister's discretion.
Members of the Yesh Atid party were outraged, saying Ya'alon's proposal effectively voids the universal enlistment principle. Peri and Ya'alon are set to meet Monday.
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