Lapid Ignites Firestorm With Plan To Deny Draft Evaders The Vote — But Exempt Arabs

A political firestorm erupted Sunday night after MK Yair Lapid unveiled his party’s plan to introduce legislation stripping voting rights from Israelis who are deemed fit for IDF service but do not enlist—while explicitly exempting the Arab public from the proposal. The announcement immediately triggered condemnation across the chareidi political spectrum.

Lapid defended the idea by challenging the assumption that the ballot is beyond scrutiny. “I don’t know who invented this phrase that the right to vote is sacred. It is not sacred. In a democratic state, there are rights and obligations, and one depends on the other – they cannot be separated,” he said, arguing that civic privileges must reflect civic duties.

He went on to clarify that the law would apply only to those who receive a draft notice but refuse to show up. “For example, the Arab public in Israel is not summoned to enlist, so it does not apply to them. Or people with mental or physical conditions who cannot enlist – it does not apply to them either. It applies only to those who received a draft order, are healthy, and can report to the induction center but choose not to. They are offenders.”

Lapid added that he plans to advance another bill targeting incarcerated individuals. “I also intend to submit, alongside this, a law stating that prisoners will not be able to vote in Israel, as well as those who fail to report to the induction center,” he said, indicating that the effort is part of a broader campaign to link voting rights with compliance to the law.

Shas responded with immediate fury, accusing the Yesh Atid leader of singling out the chareidi community. The party declared: “Yair Lapid, who hastened to clarify that he did not intend to revoke voting rights from Arabs but only from haredim, revealed his true face and the depth of his hatred toward Jews who observe Torah and mitzvot. According to Lapid, Jews who love the land, study Torah, and pray daily for the safety of IDF soldiers are worth less than Arabs, some of whom support Palestinian terror. Shameful and disgraceful.”

UTJ MK Meir Porush also issued a blistering retort, directing his remarks at Israel’s minister responsible for combating antisemitism. “Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Chikli, you need not look abroad for battles against antisemites – Yair Lapid is right here in the Israeli parliament, with ideas that even antisemites abroad would not dare voice today. Will Lapid and Liberman’s next law be a ban on haredim driving on Israeli roads paved with state funds?”

{Matzav.com}