Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party and longtime antagonist of lomdei torah, has openly called on police to prosecute the gedolim for allegedly “encouraging draft evasion.” His accusations, laced with contempt, were directed at none other than the Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka and leader of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau shlit”a, as well as the former Rishon LeTzion, Harav Yitzchak Yosef shlit”a. Lieberman, no stranger to anti-chareidi rhetoric, claimed that Rav Landau had “ordered bochurim not to report to recruitment offices,” and that Rav Yosef had made remarks about discarding draft notices. In a social media post, he expressed outrage over the continued refusal of yeshiva bochurim to join the IDF, and demanded that law enforcement prosecute those who “incite” others to reject the draft during wartime, a move which he says is punishable by 15 years imprisonment. Knesset member Yaakov Asher (UTJ) responded sharply, mocking Lieberman’s Soviet roots. “If the Israel Police are having difficulty, perhaps the KGB could lend a hand,” he quipped. Other chareidi representatives remained silent, with one insider telling the press, “We refuse to fan the flames of Lieberman’s sinas haTorah.” Just days ago, Rav Landau issued a clear psak on the front page of Yated Neeman, reaffirming the Torah world’s stance: no yeshiva bochur should cooperate with the army. Bochurim were instructed not to speak with IDF representatives, not to respond to summons, and to contact the Vaad HaYeshivos or the newly established “Lema’ancha” hotline for guidance. Those deemed “deserters” were told to avoid contact with authorities at all costs. This was not Rav Landau’s first public stand. In a speech reported in Kikar HaShabbat, the Rosh Yeshiva made it clear that Torah learning is the true protection of Klal Yisrael and criticized modern distortions of Torah hashkafah, which he said had led to spiritual and even physical casualties. Meanwhile, Rav Yitzchak Yosef has previously warned that if the government removes draft exemptions for lomdei Torah, the chareidi tzibbur may be forced to leave Eretz Yisrael en masse. “If you force us into the army, we’ll go to chutz la’aretz,” he said at the time. According to newly released IDF statistics, of the 10,000 draft notices sent to chareidim since last summer, only 205 have responded by enlisting—just over 2%. Over 1,000 arrest warrants have been issued for noncompliance, but military police have yet to enforce them. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)