Eisenkot: ‘The fact that partners and rivals attribute naivety to me works in my favor’

Following harsh criticism of any potential rapprochement with the Haredim by fellow leaders of the anti-Netanyahu bloc, Yashar chief Gadi Eisenkot declares that his approach has not changed and that he still supports conscription for Haredim — although he believes that three percent of the top yeshiva students should still receive draft exemptions.

Channel 12 quotes Eisenkot as saying that “the fact that partners and rivals attribute naivety to me works in my favor. I am also meeting and talking with members of the Likud in order to shorten the days of this bad government.”

The network reported on Sunday that Eisenkot met with Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni after the Haredi party’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Dov Lando, called to dissolve the Knesset and declared his faction’s separation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc.

According to the network, it remains unclear what was said during the meeting, and spokespeople for both politicians declined to comment on the matter. Eisenkot has said that he maintains good relations with the Haredim, despite differences of opinion and recently generated anger by stating that he would join a coalition “with those who strengthen Israel” when asked if he would sit with the Haredi parties.

Addressing a Kibbutz Leadership Conference today, the former IDF chief of staff further states that his “approach has not changed: Service for all, even at the cost of additional elections.”

“We need to come up with a realistic plan. It is impossible to accept a reality in which there are 37,000 deserters and 45,000 draft evaders. They did not carry out this process during a comprehensive, difficult, and ongoing war,” Eisenkot says — dismissing what he describes as “populist and unserious statements made by officials who held the highest positions in the country but did not advance ultra-Orthodox enlistment by a single millimeter.”

All Haredim should serve in the army while Arabs engage in national service, Eisenkot contends, arguing that three percent of each annual Haredi draft cohort should “be given the opportunity to study Torah, similar to outstanding musicians and athletes” who also receive exemptions.

Earlier today, former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid slammed The Democrats chairman Yair Golan for telling party activists that he would be willing to sit in a government with the Haredim. After video of his remarks was broadcast by the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, Golan released a video statement declaring that “the Haredim will be outside [the government], that is a guarantee.”