From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 27, 2025
Haredi lawmaker fumes after Lapid suggests stripping voting rights of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. 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"
United Torah Judaism MK Yisrael Eichler slams Opposition Leader Yair Lapid after he calls to revoke the voting rights of Haredim who do not serve in the IDF.
In a statement, the ultra-Orthodox lawmaker says that he “welcomes MK Yair Lapid’s ‘democratic ‘ demand to strip citizens of their right to vote, provided that the law applies to every privileged individual who did not serve in a combat role at the front. Additionally, anyone who has not completed their high school matriculation will not be allowed to serve as Prime Minister.”
Lapid did not graduate from high school and served as a reporter for IDF magazine Bamahane during his mandatory military service.
Speaking with reporters this afternoon, Lapid said that if the government’s controversial legislation to regulate Haredi enlistment passes, “then in the next government there will be a simple law: whoever does not come to [military induction] will not come to the polls. Whoever does not enlist, will not vote in the elections.”
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