Gantz urges PM not to present his Haredi enlistment law: ‘Don’t dismantle Israeli society’

National Unity leader Benny Gantz urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to not present his version of an ultra-Orthodox enlistment law to the cabinet this week, arguing that it would harm efforts to recruit yeshiva students into the Israel Defense Forces.

“Prime minister, while the soldiers of the IDF and their commanders are fighting and suffering, on the eve of Memorial Day, the most difficult since the establishment of the state, you are working to introduce a law that does not promote fair service in the country, [and that] will harm recruitment into the IDF, security and Israeli resilience,” Gantz, one of three voting members of the war cabinet, says in a video message.

“I urge you to stop and come to your senses. Bringing such a law is a big mistake at any time, [but] bringing it as you plan, 48 hours after we celebrate the heroism of our fallen will severely damage Israeli society and its resilience,” he continues. “Prime minister — Do not dismantle Israeli society during a war for political reasons.”

Last week, public broadcaster Kan reported that Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs is working on an ultra-Orthodox enlistment outline together with ultra-Orthodox parties allied with Netanyahu.

While details are scant, it appears the proposal is not in line with the demands of Gantz, who together with fellow National Unity member Gadi Eisenkot previously presented his own outline for Haredi recruitment and has stated that he “will not be a partner to exercises and tricks at the expense of the state’s security needs.”

Minister Gantz calls on Netanyahu not to advance ultra-Orthodox enlistment legislation which he says would "harm recruitment into the IDF" pic.twitter.com/2FZ2m3Ccd5

— Sam Sokol (@SamuelSokol) May 11, 2024