Goldknopf defends ultra-Orthodox contributions to state amid IDF exemption hubbub

The ultra-Orthodox parties do not want to pass an “evasion law” but are rather trying to defend Israel’s longstanding religious status quo, United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf tells lawmakers.

“We did not want an ‘evasion law’; we wanted a continuing arrangement in which full-time yeshiva students can continue to study,” he says, using a term employed by critics of Haredi lawmakers efforts to pass legislation enabling most ultra-Orthodox males to continue to avoid military conscription or other national service.

Many Haredi families, including his own, have members who are serving “on the front lines in Gaza,” Goldknopf tells lawmakers in the Knesset House Committee, ahead of a scheduled vote on replacing Likud MK Yuli Edelstein as chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. However, those who study full-time need “to have the opportunity to continue the arrangement that has existed for 76 years,” he insists.

“There is no you and there is no we, we are all together in the State of Israel. Everyone serves their part and everyone contributes their share,” he declares, accusing opposition lawmakers of ignoring Haredi contributions to society and arguing that the state and people of Israel are supported and protected by mass Torah study.

“You don’t recognize the state at all. You despise Zionism,” hits back Yesh Atid MK Naor Shiri.

Some 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged 18 to 24 are currently believed to be eligible for military service, but have not enlisted. The Israel Defense Forces has said it urgently needs 12,000 recruits, due to the strain on standing and reserve forces amid the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza and other military challenges. Some 2,700 Haredim enlisted over the past year, far short of the IDF’s goal of 4,800.