Coalition tensions explode after fierce draft dispute ignites outrage, accusations, and unprecedented personal attacks.
A bitter political confrontation erupted Wednesday night after Elazar Stern sharply criticized Rabbi Dov Lando over his declaration that “no yeshiva student will go to the army.”
Stern, a member of Yesh Atid, accused senior haredi leadership of stalling and prioritizing funding over national responsibility during wartime. In a social media post, he expressed anguish for bereaved families and reserve soldiers’ spouses who have appealed before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, arguing that parts of the ultra-Orthodox leadership have turned a deaf ear to their suffering.
The backlash was swift. Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, condemned Stern’s remarks as disrespectful and dismissive of Torah scholarship. MK Yaakov Asher and MK Yitzhak Pindrus echoed the outrage, defending Rabbi Lando as a towering spiritual authority and accusing Stern of crossing red lines in public discourse.
The exchange underscores deepening fractures within Israeli society over military service, religious study, and shared civic responsibility — especially amid ongoing security pressures.
As tensions rise, the debate over draft exemptions and the role of Torah study in national life remains one of the most explosive and emotionally charged issues facing the Knesset.
