United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf has issued a stark warning: the Haredi community will not accept mandatory IDF conscription, even to the point of leaving Israel, and explicitly blamed Prime Minister Netanyahu for the ongoing deadlock over a draft law, stating that the Premier has “only talked” and failed to deliver on promises.
In a bold and unyielding statement, United Torah Judaism Chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf has declared that the Haredi public will not accept mandatory conscription into the IDF, even if it means departing the State of Israel. This defiant stance was articulated in a recent interview with Makor Rishon newspaper, intensifying the already heated debate over military service exemptions in Israel.
Goldknopf asserted, “If there is no choice and they need to leave the country, they will leave. There will be a state without haredim. Haredim will not change their way of life just because there is a military and war.” He suggested that if the military is short of soldiers, they should conscript those who are already exempt, explicitly excluding Haredim from this solution.
Addressing the long-standing tension between the Haredi community and the religious Zionist community (who combine Torah study with military service), Goldknopf drew a clear line: “Their pain will be with them, and our pain will be with us. Don’t bring me your pain and transfer it to me. Let’s decide that each one has their own package.” This highlights the deep ideological chasm within religious Israeli society regarding shared national burden.
The UTJ leader also issued a strong warning against punitive measures, specifically calling for a halt to draft orders and cautioning against the arrest of yeshiva students who fail to respond to their draft notices. “I wouldn’t recommend arresting yeshiva students. It would cause a shock to the people of Israel and the world. I wouldn’t recommend that anyone in the State of Israel act in such ways. It’s a breaking of all conventions and crossing a red line,” he stated.
In a direct critique of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership on this issue, Goldknopf did not hold back. “If he wanted to and fought for it like he has for other things, there would be a draft law,” Goldknopf claimed. “When the prime minister wants something, he goes into a room, sits everyone around one table, and reaches a compromise. If Netanyahu wants us next time, he’ll need to show actions before the government is formed. I can’t come today and say Netanyahu promises. Which of the rabbis will buy into that?”
Despite his strong criticism, Goldknopf clarified that this is not a complete severing of ties with the Likud party. “I’m not closing or opening doors. We are committed to our public, and whoever knows how to bring what our public wants, will get us. Whoever only knows how to talk and talk, should stay with someone else. Meanwhile, Netanyahu in this term has only talked.” This statement leaves the door open for future political maneuvering but underscores the Haredi parties’ expectation of concrete action rather than mere assurances.
Goldknopf’s remarks come amidst a political crisis in Israel, where the Haredi parties recently pulled their ministers from the government over the failure to pass a conscription exemption law, though they have so far remained in the coalition. The Supreme Court’s decision to end the blanket exemption for Haredi men has placed immense pressure on the government to pass new legislation, a task made increasingly difficult by the Haredi community’s unwavering stance.
