Following internal discussions and consultations with leading Zionist rabbis, it appears that the Religious Zionist party will vote for the conscription bill being advanced by the government, which includes broad exemptions for the haredi sector.
The meeting on Tuesday discussed the strong public reaction that arose against the possibility that the party would support the bill. The meeting was attended by party Knesset members and a broad forum of rabbis, who were invited to share their positions on the bill's consequences.
Among the rabbis who attended were Rabbi Haim Gantz, Rabbi Hananel Etrog, Rabbi Shimon Cohen, Rabbi Haim Wolfson, Rabbi Eliyahu Blumenzwieg, Rabbi Yaakov Medan, Rabbi Yoel Manovitch, Rabbi Eyal Greiner, Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, Rabbi Yehuda Sadan, Rabbi Shmuel Haber, and Rabbi Eliezer Shinwald.
According to the party's announcement, the meeting was meant to "examine ways to enable significant haredi enlistment to the IDF," amid the disagreements regarding the proposed framework. During the meeting, a variety of positions were raised. Some participants expressed concern that the law would not produce any real result, while others warned of harming relations of trust with the religious Zionist public, in light of promises that were not fulfilled toward the Hesder yeshivas.
The position that was reached at the meeting's conclusion was that the party should work to change the bill. Party chairman Minister Bezalel Smotrich adopted the rabbis' position.
It was further stated that the party intends to continue holding discussions and to lead changes to the bill, to ensure that the law will include practical and effective steps for drafting haredim, without harming values or the serving public.
Later, the party published an additional statement which read: “Contrary to various reports, no practical decisions have yet been made, and the faction is formulating its demands and conditions for supporting the law. The meeting was held as part of an in-depth learning process for faction members and rabbis, focusing on the law, its implications, and ways to correct historical injustices and encourage haredim to enlist in the IDF. At the meeting, various opinions were expressed, both by the rabbis and the faction members, and it was agreed that the discussions would continue."
"Even now, the entire faction is determined to vote only for a law that will lead to real and swift enlistment of haredim to the IDF, in order to meet Israel’s security needs and ease the burden on the combat soldiers and their families. The Religious Zionist party, which represents the sector that serves the most, is committed to changing the current situation in practical terms and will make its decisions solely based on the merits of the matter, detached from campaigns and political interests from all sides. The faction has only one consideration before its eyes: the security of Israel and the religious and national obligation of IDF service for all parts of the nation,” the faction’s statement said.