These folks think they are above the law, and only other Israelis should be forced to serve.
In an unfolding drama within Israel’s political landscape, leading ultra-Orthodox rabbis have made a dramatic appeal to yeshiva students, urging them to reject any engagement with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This comes as the ultra-Orthodox parties escalate their threats to abandon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition if a law exempting Haredi men from military service isn’t passed by the end of the Knesset’s summer session.
Haredi rabbi’s harsh statement: ‘Destruction’ for yeshiva students to serve in IDF: Senior haredi rabbis speak out against Draft Law, insist it is ‘destruction’ and that yeshiva students not respond to draft orders. ‘This is a battle of… https://t.co/0Qmqb3blmJ ArutzSheva pic.twitter.com/cxJMpTluoI
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A prominent Ashkenazi rabbi recently joined Sephardi rabbis in a united front, commanding yeshiva students to completely avoid military draft offices. Rabbi Dov Lando, in a front-page article of the daily Yated Ne’eman, fiercely criticized the Israeli judicial system, accusing it of waging war against the Torah world. His remarks were a response to a recent High Court ruling mandating the immediate drafting of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the military would commence the drafting process for Haredi men, following the High Court’s late June decision. This sparked a strong reaction from religious leaders. Lando argued that complying with court orders equates to surrendering in a war against God and the Torah, instructing yeshiva members to avoid draft offices altogether.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the government’s silence on the rabbis’ calls, contrasting it with the outrage over elite reservists refusing service in protest of judicial reforms. Lapid demanded explicit condemnation from Netanyahu and his ministers, accusing them of neglecting soldiers and the values of the IDF and the state.
The outcry isn’t limited to the Ashkenazi rabbis. Senior Sephardi rabbis also issued statements against enlistment, declaring it forbidden by the Torah. They denounced “kosher” military programs designed to accommodate ultra-Orthodox soldiers, arguing these initiatives dangerously pave the way for greater Haredi assimilation into secular society.
Top rabbis order yeshiva students to ignore IDF call-ups amid brewing coalition crisis#Israel #FDI #Hamas #Gaza #IDF
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Three prominent rabbis from the Council of Torah Sages of the Shas party signed a letter urging young Haredi men to resist conscription. The letter called for the removal of the “evil government” and warned that current conscription laws, which include quotas for Haredi draftees, threaten to destroy Torah scholarship. They stated unequivocally that no Haredi youth should be conscripted, regardless of whether they study in yeshivas.
Ultra-Orthodox community leaders argue that their opposition to military service is rooted in preserving Torah study. However, their refusal to endorse enlistment for even those not engaged in full-time study suggests that secularization fears drive much of their resistance. They called on yeshiva heads to defy conscription orders, preferring to face the loss of government funding and potential imprisonment rather than see students join the IDF. Legal and spiritual support for draft evaders was also promised.
The discord within Netanyahu’s coalition intensified as Agudat Yisrael, the Hasidic faction of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, threatened to exit the coalition if the draft exemption law is not passed by the end of the summer session. The High Court’s ruling, which nullified the legal basis for Haredi draft exemptions, has put pressure on the government, leading to the immediate drafting of 3,000 Haredi young men.
The Knesset’s summer session ends on July 28, and if a new draft law isn’t enacted by then, the matter will be delayed until the winter session in October. A revived bill proposes setting the age of exemption at 21 and gradually increasing ultra-Orthodox enlistment rates. However, reaching an agreement among coalition parties on this contentious issue remains challenging.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews argue that military service conflicts with their way of life and risks secularizing their youth. In contrast, many Israelis believe the long-standing mass exemptions unfairly burden those who do serve. The recent conflict has further polarized opinions, especially as the nation deals with the aftermath of a war that saw significant military and civilian mobilization.
Major Points
- Prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbis are urging yeshiva students to avoid any engagement with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) amid a legal push to draft Haredi men into the military.
- Rabbi Dov Lando and senior Sephardi rabbis have called for a complete boycott of military draft offices, condemning recent High Court rulings as a war against the Torah world.
- Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s announcement of the imminent drafting of ultra-Orthodox men has intensified the rabbis’ resistance, with calls for students to defy draft orders.
- Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticized the government for not denouncing the rabbis’ calls, highlighting inconsistency in addressing insubordination.
- Ultra-Orthodox factions within Netanyahu’s coalition threaten to leave if a draft exemption law is not passed by the end of the Knesset’s summer session, jeopardizing political stability.
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
