In recent months, Minister Meir Porush has consistently called for halting the promotion of a draft law and has openly opposed the intention to tie the passage of the state budget to the approval of such a law. However, this morning, HaMevaser, the newspaper affiliated with Shlomei Emunim, has shifted its stance and launched a scathing attack on the newly appointed Defense Minister, Yisroel Katz.
According to the publication, “With the approval of the incoming Defense Minister, Yisroel Katz, who is continuing the policy initiated by his predecessor, Yoav Gallant, the army will begin issuing 7,000 additional draft notices to yeshiva students starting today.”
The article further stated: “The fact that the incoming Defense Minister is continuing a process that was doomed to fail from the outset, with the sole purpose of deepening the crisis with the chareidi community and perpetuating the war against the Torah world, has caused significant disappointment and resentment throughout all sectors of the chareidi public.”
The report also argued that, “This ongoing trend is likely to escalate into physical clashes with the chareidi public, with the singular goal of creating chaos and instability.”
Despite the strong language of the article, it should be noted that the decision to issue the draft notices is a continuation of the policy signed by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as per the directive of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Once the decision to issue these notices was made, it became exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to reverse it.
Senior figures within the chareidi political parties remain optimistic about Defense Minister Katz. They believe he is attentive to and understanding of the needs of the chareidi community, and that under his leadership, it might be possible to pass a draft law that would be acceptable to the chareidi public. “We are pleased with Yisroel Katz’s appointment as Defense Minister. Katz is a person of dialogue and collaboration,” said a senior official in United Torah Judaism following his appointment.
Meanwhile, in the Israeli Yated Ne’eman newspaper, a reminder was issued this morning of the directive from Gedolei Yisrael instructing yeshiva students not to report to draft offices at all—not even for the initial summons—as the new draft notices are set to be issued.
{Matzav.com Israel}