Peloni: Bibi makes the case for opposing DM Gallant’s demand that the Heredi Draft bill be passed only with unanimous support. The notion that such a divisive topic should only be resolved with full support in the midst of a war is suited to simply bring down the govt. The fact that the High Court forced this issue to the fore just following Bibi’s demonstration of strength while refusing foreign dictates should not be overlooked. Also, the fact that Gallant chose to exacerbate the challenge made by the High Court in the midst of the war while knowing the consequence of his demand for unanimous agreement is both puzzling and revealing.
Bibi’s speech is linked with the first video below.
“What is the utility of general elections now?” asked Netanyahu. “General election means the end of the war.”
By MICHAEL STARR | JPOST |FEBRUARY 29, 2024 19:55
Click Photo to See Video
Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference on February 29, 2024 (photo credit: NIMROD KLIKMAN/POOL)
General elections would mean the end of the Hamas-Israel War, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in a Thursday evening speech, necessitating a compromise on the haredi draft law issue.
Netanyahu said that he believed he could pass a draft law arrangement that would not tear the nation apart and would be supported by a majority in the Knesset. Such an arrangement could not be done with democratic compromise — complete agreement, he said, only exists in non-democratic countries.
“Those that demand complete agreement will not achieve any agreement,” said Netanyahu.
There were actors, Netanyahu cautioned, that might seek elections or might cause one by making extreme demands for draft arrangements, but going to the ballot box would lead to an end of the October 7 war.
“What is the utility of general elections now?” asked Netanyahu. “General election means the end of the war.”
HAREDI MEN join up with the IDF at the Tel Hashomer recruiting offices, Oct. 23. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)
Netanyahu: Elections would cripple government operations
General elections would cripple government operations, said Netanyahu. The government would be paralyzed when making decisions on Rafah, Hezbollah, or hostages.
Netanyahu said that general elections were the dream of Iran, Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Opening the polling stations could also cause emotional and political divisions in the ranks, distracting the soldiers who would otherwise be operating in cooperation in armored personnel carriers (APC) in Gaza.
“This would be deadly gunfire inside our national APC,” said Netanyahu. “It’s forbidden that it happens to us during war and when we’re so close to victory.”
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid responded on Thursday night by saying that Netanyahu’s speech sought to conceal the reality of Israel’s situation.
“Another hysterical show of a failed and guilty prime minister,” said Lapid. ‘Israel will only win if this failed government takes responsibility and resigns.”
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman asked Netanyahu on social media “When there is no unity in the war cabinet, how will you lead to unity in the nation?”
Strength through unity was a major theme of Netanyahu’s speech, explaining that it was why the draft law compromise was so necessary.
Netanyahu said that it was impossible to ignore the public feeling that the responsibilities of security were not evenly distributed in society, and it was something that the haredi community understood as well.
“It’s correct to change the situation; therefore, we will set objectives for the enlistment of haredim to IDF and civil service,” said Netanyahu, continuing to explain that they would develop the tools for this path.
Netanyahu said that the draft was needed, though he was “deeply thankful for the Torah study of our haredi brothers” and “also thankful for the enlistment to civil emergency and rescue organizations that are doing holy work.”
Lapid wrote on X that “63,000 Haredi youth are of military service age today. Twelve more infantry brigades for the IDF.
Liberman called for an end to all exemptions and deals on mandatory military service.
“Every young man and woman who reaches the age of 18, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Circassians, will enlist in the army or the civil service,” said Liberman.
Tension on the issue of the haredi draft has steadily risen since Monday’s High Court of Justice hearing on petitions on the cabinet’s haredi draft policies and the issuance of a series of conditional orders demanding the government defend them from nullification. A haredi draft law expired on June 1, but on June 25, the cabinet instructed the Defense Ministry not to draft yeshiva students until it had passed a new law at the end of March.
In a Wednesday ultimatum, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the ministry would not advance a haredi draft law proposal unless accepted by all members of the coalition.
@Peloni I do not think the government has to fall, as UTJ and Shas were already negotiating up to 50% enlistment. A deal could have been made. Bibi made a massive mistake and played a trick pulling out the old stalled bill which is a bad bill.
So your conclusion I do not accept.
At the very least, no one in favor of drafting them should sanctimoniously prate about “Torah Values” (not that I’ve heard anybody do so, as yet, but I’m confident somebody will as the urge to commit the fallacy of “stacking the deck” is usually irresistible to somebody. Though, on the other hand, it’s always possible that someone will find a passage or a taken of context snippet of a passage in the “Oral Torah” that definitively proves that it doesn’t say what it says.) 😀
– Deut 20
@Bear
This govt will only stand with the support of the Heredi parties. I look forward to the reforms which you believe should be today enforced at some time in the future, but if you have your way, at this time, this govt will fall and the war will end, it is just that simple. Such a result is not acceptable, and I thought you would agree with this position. There are of course many reasons why this issue might not be put off to another day, but if any of them have that desired result, it will place the survival of Israel in the greatest peril, and I for one would not support such a thing.
@BK
@ Seb, okay I read your link with history which I already knew.
Israel in regards to Haredi draft. Maybe the following article will explain better to you what I have been trying to communicate. If not that is okay. You will still be my favorite wanabe comedian on this site.
@BK One last try, my fifth. test
@Seb “Bear” is the correct spelling or if you wish “BK? that is less letters if that is what you are after.
“Ber” I think is part of a berry?
@Seb, on the issue I am dealing with what Israel needs both society wise and security wise.
Gantz is a horse’s-ass!
I want to see a compromise that brings the Haredi into the IDF and society. Does not have to be all at once. The Haredi parties have agreed to allow 50% to be drafted. Not even close the number needs to get to be closer to 90% eventually.
@Ber. The eagle has landed. Please reread (including article at link) and respond.
@Bear I added to my comment while you were writing your reply. Please reread if and when it re-emerges from moderation.
@ Seb, they need to start agreeing to be drafted in large numbers. If they accept this as a way of life they will start in Yeshiva’s one or two years before the draft time to become prepared for military service. That is what happens in Israel.
There is already one Yeshiva who is preparing their youth for service and they are serving. Sadly one of their number died in combat recently.
This is not about polls, this is about the split in Israeli society and sharing the burden. This is about enlarging the pool of those who work and serve in one of the security services. This is about the Haredi becoming Israelis and not just living in Israel.
@Bear
Polls are irrelevant, even when they are conducted honestly and objectively, which is another issue. Even democracies have rules. And No army functions that way. What’s the point of drafting them if the army won’t take them?
And it’s not entirely irrational considering how expensive, difficult, and potentially disruptive of cohesion, discipline, and morale it can be to accomodate their special requirements, especially gender segregation.
I was wondering what the details of Ganz’s plan that Gallant had originally supported were, and which both voted against when Bibi accepted it with the Supreme Court breathing down everybody’s neck despite the fact that THE IDF WON’T TAKE 3/4 OF THOSE WHO VOLUNTEER, a number that has been steadily increasing without coercion, anyway.
I found this. Only goes to April of this year but it explains a lot. “The devil is in the details,” as the saying goes. Progress is clearly being made in incremental steps as befits a democratic
republic but these Leftist wreckers and
saboteurs ( 😀 ) posing as rightists don’t seem to like that.
https://israelpolicyforum.org/2024/04/02/the-haredi-exemption/
.
@Ted what claim did I make. Kindly do some research on this subject and provide a coherent question. Study draft law and Supreme Court Rulings and you will find out what I mean.
You said to Peloni,
The SC has been discredited and the current government wants to reduce it power. Yet you unabashidly use its ruling as something that matters.
I have done my research and know about the ruling and the opposition to its rulings.
@Bear
Why are you basing your claim on what the SC has ruled.
@Seb & Peloni you think it is a moot point Israelis do not!
This is huge point in Israeli society and I do not think anyone has not lived in Israel can truly feel this point.
Israelis feel it is very important that the burden changes.
@Sebastien
I very much agree with your entire sagacious comment.
@Bear
Yes, yes, I know that is not your motive, but critical reasoning would indicate that this would be the result. I am most sensitive to the plight of the soldiers, and during war, such imbalances create even greater disparities and enmities as a result of such inequities, but the outcome of challenging a significant reform at this moment carries with it a great risk, and I for one would argue that the consequences of entertaining this risk is far too great to be accepted at this time.
@Peloni, the Supreme Court has years ago ruled the law was illegal and the timing was extended and finally landed now.
Right now more soldiers are needed. Even if do none combat jobs to relieve others to enter combat.
I am not for elections now that said!
@Bear
While it is time for this issue to be addressed, the question remains whether the time to press this issue is in the midst of a war, a war in which Israel is faced with fighting with the Left, Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, Iran, the international community, and the Americans. Indeed, the issue of the Haredis threatens the stability of the current govt in the midst of this war, and should this govt fall, as all of those listed above want it to fall, the war will end and Iran will have won once again, even as it may lead to the Haredis being included in larger numbers in the armed forces. Israel must win this war, no matter the cost, and if that cost includes pushing off the Haredi draft law to another day or pursuing a less stringent reform, than I would argue that this would be a lesser cost than losing the war outright.
@Bear It’s a moot point. The IDF leadership doesn’t want most of them. It’s a fake issue to bring down the government. That’s why Ganz – who has championed Pal statehood in the past – voted against his own bill when Bibi accepted it. Or in the words of Obama and Hillary’s mentor, Saul Alinsky, “The issue isn’t the issue. Power is the issue.” It has been pointed out that – internationally throughout the West — the right tends to focus exclusively on the merits of policies without taking into consideration the disingenuous nature of the opposition which operates as a power bloc and just throws anything against the wall to see what will stick. or in the words of General William Tecumsah Sherman “In war, just throw everything you have at the enemy and keep moving.” This is why in debates when they lose an argument they never acknowledge it, they just go down the list of their talking points and move on. I wonder if this the conceptual origin of the title of the notorious Progressive website, “moveon.org.”
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/jewish-news/haredim-news/revealed-since-october-7-the-idf-rejected-3120-out-of-4000-haredim-asking-to-enlist/2024/06/06/
@Bear Revealed: Since October 7 the IDF Rejected 3,120 out of 4,000 Haredim Asking to Enlist
By David Israel – 29 Iyyar 5784 – June 6, 2024 0
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/jewish-news/haredim-news/revealed-since-october-7-the-idf-rejected-3120-out-of-4000-haredim-asking-to-enlist/2024/06/06/
Israelis in large majority (70%) want far more Haredis to serve as the burden on current reservists is very difficult.
Yeshiva’s need to start preparing their students for the draft. There is one yeshiva doing that now.
https://forward.com/news/591020/survey-large-majority-of-israeli-jews-want-haredim-to-serve-in-the-military/
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/left-vs-right/gallant-votes-no-on-coalitions-haredi-conscription-law-gantz-the-author-also-votes-no/2024/06/11/
Generals should stick to “war games” and politicians to politics.
The Left wants EVERYTHING with the support of the US Adm massive toxic interference.
End to “ALL” exemptions. Absolutely.