Israeli Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich weighed in on the storm surrounding Israel’s draft legislation and the status of yeshiva students, declaring that he intends to lead a process that will result in the enlistment of thousands of chareidim into the Israel Defense Forces.
Speaking in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Smotrich said: “We will enlist thousands upon thousands of chareidim. We will make a historic change in which chareidi society takes all of its values and charges into the State of Israel. Unlike others, I am not looking for a campaign, not looking for populism, and not looking to turn them into enemies. I want them leading—in the army, in the economy, and in public service in Israel.”
According to Smotrich, many within the chareidi community want to integrate and be part of the broader society. “I believe there are enough chareidim who want to integrate,” he said. “I am determined to bring about a dramatic change in chareidi responsibility for the State of Israel.”
He added that he wants to see chareidim playing a central role in Israel’s economy and contributing their abilities. “I am working on several amendments,” Smotrich said, declining to provide details. “I’m intentionally not saying what they are, because I want to succeed.”
In a previous interview in the studio of Kikar HaShabbat, Smotrich addressed the draft law more broadly, stating: “Only a law that leads to a real process in which the chareidi public participates in the great mitzvah of defending the security of Israel and the eternity of Israel can work. This has to happen. The situation cannot remain as it is.”
He continued: “Anyone who thinks I will be a rubber stamp doesn’t understand what he’s talking about. In my worldview, there is no exemption from this mitzvah. Let’s see what kind of law is brought. I understand that this is a process and I am prepared for that patience—but I demand that it be real and fast.”
Smotrich said he is demanding “a genuine process that will enlist thousands of chareidim every year into the IDF, including combat service and other roles where they are needed.”
He also noted that he has conveyed his position directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu. “I tell the prime minister all the time that the chareidim will support it,” Smotrich said. “We will not be a ‘Shabbos goy,’ and I demand that this law be real.”
{Matzav.com}
chas veshalom to enlist a yeshiva bachur!!!
Why can’t he be like a normal person and wear a black velvet yarlmuka? What’s with these knitted yarmulke’s that we used to knead in elementary school?
Looks like the Religious Zionists have decided to pit themselves against the Charedim. I’ve never seen this before; it’s sad.
They have done that for a century now.
He’s talking like the Yevanim, the Greeks, who also wanted to make a historic change to the Jews. Hey, Mr. Smotrich, have you not said Al Hanisim several times a day this week? The same G-d Who came to the rescue in the time of the Yevanim will rescue Chareidim in the days of Smotrich.
That is exactly his State and its ideology. It’s not anything new to them.
Never happen
The army would have to discharge all females. The army would have to be run by Chareidim. The army would have to stop saving gazan civilian lives over its own Israeli soldiers. The army is totally irresponsible over their own soldiers lives.
Obviously not. The whole point is to convert the chareidim from Jew to Nationalist. All the rest simply follows that shmad.
The comments here should be send to wake up Smotrich, who seems to be no better than Bennett.