The chairman of Religious Zionism, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, addressed the conscription of Haredi yeshiva students this evening (Wednesday) - and claimed that the reality in which they do not conscript cannot continue.
The documentation was published on Amit Segal's Telegram account.
Smotrich said: "We mentioned the Haredi public, for whom I have great love. I also admire their devotion to Torah, families blessed with children. But this must change! This reality that they do not serve in the army cannot continue, I think it is clear to them as well.".
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He added: "It begins first of all from an internal place of partnership, of responsibility, of being part of the wonderful processes of resurrection and rebirth that we are privileged to live in in this generation. It is not for nothing that Rabbi Zvi Yehuda (-Kook) defined this as 'righteous people who do not believe.' It is a kind of blindness! A kind of duplicity towards the Lord of the world.".
He later said: "This is not an equalization of the burden, it is a great privilege to take part in this mitzvah of 'helping Israel out of trouble'. The Israeli claim is right, it is outrageous.".
However, he noted: "We must be careful not to turn this into disputes and a political axe to dig into and clashes on October 6th. Do this with a lot of love, with a lot of dialogue, but with a lot of determination that no one will interpret our desire as acceptance of the existing situation. I believe that if we do this for the sake of heaven, the truth will be evident.".
The minister further claimed: "I am in contact with many Haredim, openly and secretly. When it comes from a genuine place, it enters the heart. Whoever comes to attack will find the opposite movement. Whoever comes with love and a true national moral demand will meet a will there. I will not take this to a place of wars, but I do not intend to give up.".
Also in an interview he gave this evening to Odad Ben Ami on Channel 12, Smotrich said: "There is a very just moral and ethical demand here towards the Haredi public - and in my opinion also a Torah one. I come from a public that combines both Torah and the army as best as possible. This is a demand that comes from a deep and correct place - and I am convinced that if it comes from a real place, it will meet a real response on the other side. If it comes from a clash and a messiah of clashing and attacking Haredi people - it will only do harm.".
The minister added: "Whoever truly wants to make amends - I will assist him. I am in dialogue with the leaders and the ultra-Orthodox public, and many of them do not ignore the just claim. This is a crossroads that can make real amends in Israeli society.".
