At a conference on Monday, Yerushalayim Affairs and Jewish Tradition Minister Meir Porush raised concerns about whether the religious-Zionist community was adequately reciprocating the support they received from the chareidi sector, particularly regarding key issues such as West Bank settlements. He questioned whether their backing of religious-Zionist priorities was met with equal support for chareidi yeshiva students seeking exemption from military service.
“Unlike others, I believe that the religious community does not receive the respect it deserves for its contribution on the battlefield, especially in the last war,” the UTJ MK told the religious-Zionist audience at a Yerushalayim event hosted by the Besheva media group.
He continued by emphasizing his past and present advocacy for religious-Zionist representation in critical decision-making discussions. “When there were objections to the inclusion of representatives of the religious community at the decision-making table, I supported it and still believe that you deserve a greater voice in the discussion on how to continue the war – because you have paid the highest price in this war.”
Porush also highlighted what he sees as the significant contributions of the chareidi community, particularly in maintaining a strong demographic presence in Yerushalayim. “Think about the possibility that over the past 58 years, the blessed growth rate of chareidi families in Jerusalem would not have been maintained, if large families had not remained in Yerushalayim, if the chareidi families in Yerushalayim had not been blessed with children. Without this, standing proudly next to me today would be a Muslim mayor of Yerushalayim. It is not politically correct to say this, but it is the truth,” Porush said.
He further argued that the role of the chareidi community in ensuring the Jewish future of the land should not be overlooked. “The question arises: isn’t this part of bearing the burden? Isn’t our part in mutual responsibility for the future of the Land of Israel worthy of consideration in the overall considerations? Isn’t a chareidi mother raising eight, or 10, or sometimes even 12 children, and I was fortunate that my wife is among them, and there are those who have even more, isn’t such a mother deserving of a voice in the critical question of what preserves the Jewish people here? I know it’s not everything. But is it nothing in your eyes?”
Porush acknowledged the growing frustration within the chareidi sector regarding their unwavering support for religious-Zionist settlement efforts. “In our community, there are those who ask, isn’t this connection between us too costly? Isn’t chareidi Judaism’s support for all settlement actions in Judea and Samaria, including the establishment on the hills, what we call ‘young settlement,’ forcing us to pay too high a price in relation to our ability as a chareidi community to maintain our conservative way of life?”
However, Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich later pushed back against demands from the chareidi community to advance legislation granting broad military exemptions before finalizing the 2025 budget.
{Matzav.com Israel}