Ahead of budget vote, Gantz urges government to conscript ultra-Orthodox
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

In a press conference, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz criticizes the government’s management of the war and its proposed amended budget for 2024 as harmful to the state, panning what he characterizes as Jerusalem’s “strategic mistakes,” and urges the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox.
“It is impossible to ignore the fact that there are challenges in the conduct of the government,” the former IDF chief of staff says ahead of the final two readings of the controversial budget bill.
“The state budget that will be brought today reflects the days [before] October 6. And even worse, real operational needs and correct priorities are harmed as a result of political conduct aimed at preventing the expansion of the ranks of the IDF,” he says in an apparent reference to the government’s reticence to enlist members of the ultra-Orthodox community to solve the military’s manpower shortage.
“Instead of taking advantage of the unity of the people, and the urgent national need, they harm the IDF during combat and exacerbate the rift in the people. These are strategic mistakes, which we will have to correct,” he continues.
“My way has always been a way of broad and shared agreements, but the current situation cannot continue. We have soldiers who have already returned to the reserves, there is an operational need to extend the service of the regular soldiers, there are families and businesses that are holding on by the teeth to last and win this campaign. They look at us expecting a fundamental and real change. Nice words will not be enough here. I appeal to all parts of society, and also to my ultra-Orthodox brothers — the time has come. The country needs them all.”