1.
The story is more complex than saying "Who are you working for?" And I write this as someone who also knows how to criticize Aryeh Deri when necessary.
It is true that the Shas chairman's main concern is to return to the government, mainly to secure jobs and other benefits, but in the conscription law the story is not black and white.
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It is also true that it is important to him to have a conscription law as soon as possible, in order to reach his goal. And yet, when Deri says, 'We are working on a law to regulate the status of Torah students,' he is not working on anyone. That is the truth.
His representatives, along with Uri Maklev, a representative of Degel, are working in complete harmony with MK Boaz Bismuth and working day and night to reach their goal: a conscription law.
2.
Is the draft law that is being formulated good for the Haredi public? It is unclear. And yet, the alternative, the current situation, is worse.
Is the conscription law good for the serving public? It is unclear. And yet, the alternative, according to which there is currently almost zero Haredi conscription - because the rabbis imposed a blanket prohibition, even on those who are not true Torah students, as long as there is no law - is worse.
If we really want thousands of Haredim to fill the regular and reserve forces, we must compromise on some kind of conscription law.
3.
After October 7th, there is a growing trend that Haredim who are not studying are interested in enlisting - civilian service, Kodkud, 8200, paratroopers, Hasmoneans. However, the majority of them are now subject to the 'brakes' of the prohibition imposed by the rabbis and another 'brakes' of the feeling of the heart ("I cannot enlist when my righteous brother has become a 'deserter' and is at risk of arrest, my conscience won't let me").
Therefore, a law is needed that will unblock the bottleneck and allow the sweeping prohibition of the Jewish elders on cooperation with the IDF.
4.
In this story, there are 'bad guys' (those taking advantage of the conflict that is tearing apart Israeli society on their way to overthrowing the government) and there are also 'good guys' (reservists and reservist wives who have been torn apart for two years and are crying out for help); there are those whose intentions are genuine and there are those who are riding the wave and exploiting it for their political needs - which is 'disgusting' to me. Certainly at a time when we need unity.
Either way, the Haredi society feels victimized because it feels that they do not understand what their "birds of the soul" are, that they do not understand the value of Torah study that has preserved the Jewish people for thousands of years.
Many in the Israeli public have difficulty understanding these 'heavenly' arguments, and there is no way in the world to logically explain the issue to them.
During the hours of sitting in the studios, I couldn't explain myself to even one secular person. I know, I'm really not kidding myself.
5.
How will the story end?
Probably by establishing a left-wing government, a Gush Shinui bloc - there they will be able to explain to the people of Israel that if we want unity, if we want thousands of Haredim in the army, there is no choice and compromises must be made. Every couple makes compromises on a daily basis, and a people and a state must also walk a path of mediation and reconciliation.
Because Iran/Hamas/Hezbollah are lurking for all of us. And they really aren't sad when we are torn apart.
