As fresh data revealed that the overwhelming majority of chareidi men summoned for military duty have refused to report, Avigdor Lieberman urged law enforcement on Wednesday to take legal action against prominent gedolei Torah who have publicly advocated for draft resistance.
Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beytenu party, singled out former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef and Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Dov Landau, accusing these gedolim of inciting yeshiva students to ignore enlistment orders.
In a tweet, Lieberman stated that Rav Landau “ordered yeshiva students not to report to recruitment offices,” and that Rav Yosef “called for draft orders to be torn up and thrown down the toilet.” He also noted that “at the same time, dozens of demonstrations and calls for evasion are taking place” in chareidi areas.
Lieberman pointed to specific articles in Israeli law that classify encouraging draft dodging during wartime as a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He demanded that authorities “act in accordance with the law, and not to evade its enforcement.”
When asked if he intended to file formal complaints, Lieberman’s spokesperson said his call was for the government itself to uphold the law.
In a sarcastic retort, UTJ lawmaker Yaakov Asher referenced Lieberman’s Soviet background, saying, “if difficulties arise for the Israel Police in enforcing the matter, it would be possible to use the good services of the KGB.”
No additional chareidi MKs commented on Lieberman’s remarks.
Fresh statistics from the IDF released Wednesday revealed that just 205 out of 10,000 chareidi men who were sent draft notices since last summer have actually signed up—barely over two percent.
In a speech last March, Rav Yosef warned that the chareidim could leave the country if they were forced into the military. “If you force us to go to the army, we’ll all move abroad,” he declared.
In the Israeli Yated, Rav Landau advised yeshiva students not to speak with military personnel. Those at risk of arrest due to their refusal to serve should steer clear of all interactions with state authorities, he said, and anyone planning to travel abroad must consult with the Vaad HaYeshivos, the liaison body between chareidi yeshivas and the Defense Ministry regarding deferments.
{Matzav.com Israel}