Lapid Fires Back at Gafni: “We’re Done Taking Orders From You — The Draft Law Will Not Pass”

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid on Monday sharply responded to remarks made by United Torah Judaism chairman MK Moshe Gafni, declaring that a proposed military draft law will not pass and accusing Gafni of crossing red lines.

Lapid’s comments came during a speech in the Knesset plenum, hours after Gafni referred to him in an interview using harsh language. Addressing the interview directly, Lapid said, “A few hours ago, in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat, MK Gafni called me ‘zero.’ I want to remind MK Gafni of what I told him here already 13 years ago — we are done taking orders from you.”

Turning to the substance of the dispute, Lapid added, “MK Gafni must understand, the draft law will not pass. Because it is an un-Jewish act to evade your obligation to fight alongside your brothers who are battling to save this homeland.”

Gafni’s remarks that sparked the response were made in an interview with journalist Yishai Cohen, in which he launched a broad attack on Lapid. Gafni accused Lapid of losing control and acting irresponsibly, claiming that delays in salary transfers and budget approvals that Lapid criticized were practices that also took place during Lapid’s own tenure as finance minister.

In the interview, Gafni escalated his rhetoric, accusing Lapid of obsessively targeting the chareidi public and using inflammatory language whenever related issues arise. “Now this brazen man comes along,” Gafni said, arguing that Lapid selectively ignored similar budget items benefiting religious state schools. He claimed that the accountant general had already explained that the same procedures existed under Lapid’s watch, and accused him of seeking to destabilize the government at any cost. Gafni concluded his remarks with a personal insult, saying of Lapid, “Who is he anyway? Zero.”