Smotrich joins calls for Haredim to enlist: ‘The current situation is outrageous and cannot continue’

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich appeared to join the growing calls for the ultra-Orthodox community to do more to share the burden of military service, rather than continuing to receive blanket exemptions for yeshiva students.

“The current situation is outrageous and cannot continue,” Smotrich says in public comments during a visit to a yeshiva for national religious students.

“The current reality in which [Haredim] do not serve in the army cannot continue. I think that is also clear to them,” he says.

The far-right minister argues that service in the IDF “comes first and foremost from a place of mutual responsibility, of being part of the wonderful processes of revival and rebirth in which our generation is fortunate to take part.”

“We’re talking about sharing in the burden. It’s a great privilege to take part in this mitzvah,” he continues. “The Israeli society’s claim against the community is just.”

Smotrich clarifies that the effort to enlist Haredim should be done respectfully “with a lot of love and dialogue.”