From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Gantz: We’ll leave the coalition if Netanyahu’s Haredi draft bill passes
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"
Calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s outline for a Haredi draft law a “red line,” war cabinet Minister Benny Gantz declares that his National Unity party will not be able to remain in the coalition if it is passed into law.
“The people will not be able to put up with it, the Knesset will not be able to vote for it, and my friends and I will not be able to be members of the emergency government if such legislation passes the Knesset and enters the statute book of the State of Israel, in a way that would harm the unity and security of the state in general, during wartime in particular,” Gantz states in a video message.
“I call on the Likud ministers and members of the Knesset, make your voices heard,” he appeals, arguing that such legislation constitutes a “serious failure of values” that would create significant social rifts during wartime, when Israeli society needs to remain united.
“I appeal to the leaders of the ultra-orthodox parties as someone who has no doubts about the importance of studying the Torah and preserving Israel’s heritage and tradition — do not try to pass an incorrect law that the entire nation cannot bear.”
According to the Ynet news outlet, the outline Gantz was referring to does not set a quota of ultra-Orthodox men enlisting per year; sets the age of exemption from service at 35; and ensures that Haredi men who don’t enlist will not face criminal sanctions.
It also includes a plan to set up special ultra-Orthodox battalions in the IDF and add Haredi positions in the country’s emergency services and government offices.
Gantz’s comments come after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced earlier today that he would not support Netanyahu’s proposal and criticized his fellow coalition members for refusing to be “flexible” on the issue of blanket exemptions from the IDF for the ultra-Orthodox community.
