Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in a column to be published tomorrow (Friday) in the newspaper 'Makor Rishon', refers to the Haredi conscription law.
""If there is anyone who knows how to mobilize all the Haredim tomorrow, raise your hand. If there is anyone who believes that Gantz will not give the Haredim a century-long exemption after the next elections in some legislative israeloff, if they will only agree to betray Netanyahu and form a government with him - I have a house to sell him on the moon," Smotrich wrote.
""As if the exemption for the ultra-Orthodox from conscription began a year ago, when I first entered a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox parties as party leader. As if this is the first term in which religious Zionism, in its various incarnations, sits in the same coalition with the ultra-Orthodox. As if the previous government, which served for more than a year without a single ultra-Orthodox member, took one step towards conscription of the ultra-Orthodox.".
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He emphasized that despite the difference in positions, the partnership with the Haredi parties must not be broken off because of the conscription issue. "We have a deep disagreement with the Haredi on the conscription issue, but it would be a serious mistake to break the political alliance with them because of it. In the past year, as Minister of Finance, I have taken quite a few steps to promote the integration of Haredi in the army and the labor market.
""I have said over and over again that such a coalition with the Haredi can and should be an opportunity to do this together. The CBS data from three weeks ago shows a sharp increase in the participation of Haredi men in the labor market, a trend that, if it continues, will herald the arrival of the necessary change. I believe and am working on it that this will also be the case with regard to service in the IDF. I am trying to present to the Haredi public the demand for partnership from a place deep in the heart, as a moral, Torah, Jewish and national demand, and not as a place to clash, and as such I believe that it will be accepted and much more beneficial than attacks of fire and criticism, however just.
""I believe that our political alliance with the national camp, which includes the Likud and the Haredim, is the right thing for religious Zionism and the state. Of course, we do not boycott anyone and do not oppose broader governments. So far, this has not happened because of boycotts from the other side, both of the Likud and Netanyahu and of us. And as with any political alliance, there are compromises and mutual give and take. It is not perfect and it requires a lot of patience and perseverance, but overall it works and we are making progress in all areas. In the previous term, we saw the alternative - an alliance with the enemies of Israel and the radical left, which abhors religious Zionism, is far from the scent of Judaism and is alienated from the Land of Israel.".
