Ultra-Orthodox parties attack Edelstein, accusing him of sabotaging deal for Haredi draft bill

The two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, issue a joint statement blaming Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein for the crisis over the draft exemption law, accusing him of sabotaging talks and deceiving the public.

“For a year and a half now, he has been misleading the negotiating teams, the rabbis, the reserve personnel, the military and security officials – and everyone who has acted honestly to bring about a balanced and respectful settlement on the issue,” the statement charges.

“He continues to mislead about the ‘compromise outline’ he formulated, but in practice, he has repeatedly sabotaged every possible outline,” it says, accusing him of going back on agreements.

“It is no coincidence that he refuses to reveal the text of the law he supposedly agreed to – because he knows that this will expose his series of violations and deceptions,” the statement says, accusing Edelstein of “playing a political game” and “single-handedly toppling the right-wing government.”

The statement calls on Edelstein’s fellow Likud members to “denounce” him.”

The statement comes after UTJ quit the government, and Shas was mulling a similar move.

Earlier, Edelstein said there could be “no compromise” on sanctions for draft dodgers.