PM’s office claims falsely that Gallant, Halevi prevented establishment of Haredi IDF units

The Prime Minister’s Office accuses Channel 13 of misrepresenting a leaked recording of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telling a senior Haredi rabbi that he removed top defense officials from their posts to pass legislation exempting Haredim from military service, in a statement that only partly addresses the contents of the recording.

“As can be clearly heard in the recordings — without the distorted interpretation of Channel 13’s so-called ‘analysts’ — the Prime Minister notes that it was the former chief of staff and Defense Minister who prevented the establishment of dedicated units for Haredi service,” writes the PMO.

“In contrast, the current Defense Minister and Chief of Staff are advancing the issue swiftly and professionally, and we are proud of that,” concludes the statement.

Contrary to Netanyahu’s claims, former IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi and former defense minister Yoav Gallant did, in fact, advance and approve the establishment of dedicated units for ultra-Orthodox soldiers, including the IDF’s first-ever Haredi brigade, known as the Hasmonean Brigade.

Halevi also suggested establishing a yeshiva in the Jordan Valley to benefit Haredi soldiers who could serve there as part of a new eastern division.