MK Dan Illouz of the Likud party spoke with Arutz Sheva, emphasizing the urgent need to overhaul the military draft system to include the chareidi sector. He argued that integrating chareidi youth into the IDF is vital not only for national defense but also for maintaining unity within Israeli society.
Discussing the need to expand IDF ranks, Illouz said the army cannot rely endlessly on a limited group of reservists. “If we want total victory, then we need soldiers who know how to bring this total victory,” he said. He acknowledged the political challenges but pointed out that the Knesset’s current break offers an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between Likud, the chareidi factions, and the Religious Zionist Party to find common ground.
“Even if it means going head-to-head politically with the haredi parties, we must do what’s necessary,” Illouz stated. “The greatest risk to the right-wing coalition is ignoring the soldiers who serve. If we turn our backs on them, we lose the next election.”
Addressing claims that only serious yeshiva students should be exempt, Illouz rejected the notion that only select individuals deserve exemption. “When you learn Torah, you understand more why you should serve,” he said. Nonetheless, he expressed willingness to reach a political compromise that would allow full-time yeshiva students to be exempt, stressing that the ultimate goal remains to strengthen the IDF with more personnel.
On the war with Hamas, Illouz voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s approach, advocating for a forceful response. “If any president had faced what we faced on October 7, the area from which the attackers came would now look like a parking lot,” he declared. While acknowledging Israeli accomplishments in Gaza, Illouz said the time had come for a final and decisive offensive.
“Now is the time for Israel to say, ‘We tried everything for a deal. It didn’t work. We need to go full force to victory.’ That’s the only way to release our hostages,” he said.
Illouz urged a complete military sweep of Gaza, pointing out that a quarter of the territory remains untouched. He noted that these sections, designated as “humanitarian zones,” may be concealing hostages. He warned that continuing to hold back could endanger the lives of those still in captivity.
Looking ahead, Illouz suggested implementing President Trump’s plan encouraging voluntary emigration from Gaza. He argued that many residents would choose to leave. “The people left behind will largely be Hamas combatants, who must be either exiled, jailed, or eliminated. The remaining civilians can pursue a better future elsewhere.”
In response to calls from global leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize a Palestinian state, Illouz issued a stark warning. “Macron is giving a prize to Hamas for October 7. It’s not only dangerous for Israel, it’s dangerous for the free world.”
He urged the Israeli government to take decisive action by officially applying Israeli law to Judea and Samaria. “In 1967, we liberated these territories, but we never applied Israeli law. That needs to change.”
Illouz argued that Israel’s indecision over the legal status of these areas invites mounting international pressure. He compared the situation to Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, noting that even without widespread global recognition, international efforts to reverse it eventually faded.
“By allowing doubt to linger, we are inviting more pressure to establish a Palestinian state,” Illouz warned. “Judea and Samaria is not only a part of Israel, it’s the heart of Israel—Shilo, Bet El, Chevron, Yerushalayim. This is our biblical heartland.”
He concluded with optimism that President Trump would support such a move, provided Israel takes the lead. “I’m convinced that Trump, who has shown fairness and understanding, will be on our side. But it’s our job to put it on the table.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
So if the yeshiva guys b’davka should go into the army, then the chilonim should learn in their place.
An idea that the chareidim won’t like nor the left, is that the chareidim should learn in battle. Not exactly on the front lines, but behind. This way they feel the tzar of their brothers who are fighting.
Why should Chareidim join an army that will never allow them to be in charge. The army is led by leftist who would not even allow settlers to move up in rank. The army and Supreme Court is controlled by leftist bareheaded secularist elements.
No religious Jew, whether they are learning full time or not, should serve in the IDF as long as it maintains its current framework. The reasons for this are twofold.
1) Secular Israelis have less regard for the value of Jewish lives. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, over 1.5 million unborn children have been murdered through abortion by secular Israelis. On the othr hand, religious Israelis watch over their unborn children, sometimes at great sacrifice. It is therefore, unreasonable to expect a religious Jew to put his life in the hand of commanders who value Jewish lives less than they do. Additionally, murdering over 1.5 million unborn children means they murdered over 1.5 million potential soldiers of the IDF. And now they want those communities who watched over their children to put their lives on the line as well.
2) Religious Jews believe that HaShem has promised us Jews that if our army encampments are places of holiness, i.e. free of immoral behaviour and impure speech, that the soldiers will be protected by HaShem’s Presence. In such a case, a soldier in the army would not be in any more danger than he would be while working from 9-5 in an office.
However, due to foreign ideas about equality of the genders, a desire for culture, for opportunity for permissiveness, as well as the outright denial of Torah truth, present army leaders refuse to enforce holiness in the IDF.
It is therefore foolish for any religious Jew who knows that the activities of the IDF could potentially not involve anything dangerous, to put his life at risk by actively going to a situation that is life-threatening. Anyone doing so should take full responsibility for any mishap that may occur to him R”L. Let them make the IDF into TZaHaL, i.e TZva Hariga L’Oyeiv, and nothing else, with a holy atmosphere, and no more graves will need to be dug on Mt. Herzl. But army leaders would rather sacrifice the lives of the soldiers on the altar of ignoring HaShem and His Torah. No religious Jew should willingly participate or allow their children to participate in such idiocy.
Ty for that piece of “daas tora” and in my opinion all mks should start observing the mitzvos of the tora
So make the army JEWISH, HOLY, geared to Torah learners that Hashem should be pleased and not have to run from the army like He’s been doing until now.
It is amazing that people think that Hamas would leave a hostage alive if they were to be attacked….if we go out -all oyut- in war, they know they are dead…… thery will take all with them.no?
The draft law is racist and discriminates against jews – arab citizens are exempt even though there is no law that exempts them. the draft must be abolished and replaced with a professional army.