Liberman doubles down on threat to shutter religious pre-army academy

Defense Minsiter Avigdor Liberman doubles down on his call for Rabbi Yigal Levinstein to step down from his position as head of a in light of his stance against female soldiers.

Writing on Facebook, Liberman accuses Education Minister Naftali Bennett of opposing the demand for Levinstein’s resignation for purely political reasons.

“I was saddened to see that instead of joining the call, Nafatali Bennett stood by the side of Rabbi Levinstein for narrow political considerations,” Liberman says. “They are sacrificing the yeshiva and pre-army academy in Eli on the altar of the Jewish Home primaries,” he says.

Liberman says he knows the importance of these “proper” religious institutions and that the “last thing [he] wants to do is harm” them, but he can no longer tolerate Levinstein leading them.

“This is all for a man who has twice apologized after insulting entire populations and has now again hurt — flagrantly and contemptuously — female soldiers of the IDF and women of Israel,” he says.

“Now is the time to come together and protect the united nation of Israel,” Liberman says.

— Judah Ari Gross