Hardening tone, Smotrich said to tell his party he can’t support current text of draft bill

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told members of his far-right Religious Zionism party this afternoon that he cannot stand behind Likud MK Boaz Bismuth’s proposed bill regulating ultra-Orthodox conscription in its current form, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

Speaking with party MKs during their weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Smotrich reportedly said that the legislation, as currently written, “does not permit supporting it.”

Smotrich’s comments within the closed-door meeting appear harsher in tone than what he told reporters a press conference this afternoon, when he said that his party “will vote only for a law that will bring about the real and rapid enlistment of the ultra-Orthodox into the army, to meet the needs of the IDF and ease the burden on soldiers, reservists, and their families.”

Smotrich had said that the party is preparing proposed changes to the bill and will “insist on their inclusion during the legislative process.” But he also appeared to argue that it is better to support this “imperfect” bill than none at all.

“It’s possible to continue opposing any law because it’s imperfect, and remain without ultra-Orthodox enlistment for many more years,” Smotrich said. “Or one can demonstrate leadership and backbone, withstand some pressure, insist on the truly important issues, and bring about an agreed-upon framework that will enact a real revolution and, after 77 years of serious distortion, begin to correct it.”

According to Kan, Smotrich dressed down Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer, a member of his party, during the meeting, due to a press conference Sofer had held earlier in the day at which he said that he would vote against the bill even if it costs him his position in cabinet.

In addition to Smotrich’s criticism, the Ynet news site reports that Religious Zionism MKs Ohad Tal and Simcha Rothman also lambasted Sofer for making his statement before the party could decide its official position.

In addition to Sofer, party lawmakers Moshe Solomon and Michal Woldiger have publicly expressed opposition to bill.

Speaking with Kan this evening, Likud MK Eliyahu Revivo said that due to internal opposition, the coalition does not currently have a majority in favor of the controversial legislation.

“I’m saying this based on knowledge, not speculation,” he told the network, echoing comments made earlier in the day during a discussion in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.