Netanyahu visits ultra-Orthodox troops amid government crisis over Haredi draft exemptions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited troops of the IDF’s new ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean Brigade at the unit’s training base in the Jordan Valley earlier today.

The visit comes as the Haredi United Torah Judaism party yesterday quit Netanyahu’s coalition and government as part of an ongoing struggle over the conscription of yeshiva students. The ultra-Orthodox Shas party is also reportedly set to leave the coalition for the same reason.

“They come as Haredim and they leave as Haredim, and this is possible. They come not by coercion, they come willingly, and this willingness is widespread in the Haredi public,” Netanyahu says at the Tebetz Camp, according to remarks released by his office. Netanyahu is apparently seeking to allay ultra-Orthodox fears that youths from the community lose their religion when exposed to secular society in the military.

Netanyahu says, “We can lead a process that is not confrontational, not one of internal strife, but one of mobilizing all the forces in Jewish society to truly protect our state and defend our people.”

Smotrich, during the visit, says, “With God’s help, we are determined to bring about the enlistment of many thousands of Haredi youth, and are convinced that this is the way to do it, together, through trust-building and a determined and thorough process.”

Blanket draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox public have become exceedingly unpopular, in light of the IDF’s manpower squeeze during the ongoing war and the strain it has put on society.

The military has said that it currently requires some 12,000 new soldiers — 75% of whom will be combat troops.