From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Gantz denies offering IDF exemption deal to Haredi parties in exchange for early elections
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"
National Unity chairman Benny Gantz denies media reports that he offered the Haredi parties an extension of their long-standing IDF exemption in exchange for an agreement to hold national elections in six months.
“I have never conditioned the issue of service on elections,” he posts on X, formerly Twitter, declaring that he would not provide support to any proposal “aimed at bypassing the High Court of Justice and not responding to the needs of the IDF and Israeli society.”
“As I repeated and said throughout this whole period: A solution for recruitment – yes, exemption from recruitment – no,” he states.
A proposal by Gantz and fellow National Unity minister Gadi Eisenkot “is the most correct, just and realistic solution” and is presented “with great respect for the study of the Torah” and will “allow the ultra-Orthodox to maintain their lifestyles,” he insists. “This offer is still valid today.”
Gantz and Eisenkot’s plan calls for gradual annual increases in the number of Haredim doing military service, although the version presented to the press did not detail specific quotas.
