Former Minister Accuses Religious Zionist Party of Encouraging Draft Evasion

Former Likud minister and Reservists Party Chairman Yoaz Hendel has sharply criticized Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party, accusing its leadership of abandoning core Zionist values and enabling mass draft evasion. Hendel made these remarks on 103FM, one day after the party held its primaries, arguing that the party's leaders prioritize their partnership with haredi parties over national service.

Hendel stated that the party's leaders "have never experienced the army in their lives" and have never endured the hardships of military service. He expressed deep disappointment that, "at the moment of truth, during wartime, they chose to support the haredi parties and political operatives." According to Hendel, this support is evident in the distribution of government positions and budget transfers that he believes encourage avoidance of military service. He further criticized legislation advanced by the coalition, describing it as "a draft-evasion law and a law that disgraces the Torah."

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This is a list whose leaders have never experienced the army in their lives. They never stood eight hours on, eight hours off in a pillbox, at a post or in a defensive position, and that is the truth. The most painful truth is that, at the moment of truth, during wartime, they chose to support the haredi parties and political operatives.

"In politics, apparently, everything is permitted, but in the moral, ethical and Jewish world, it cannot be that someone who calls himself ‘Religious Zionism’ encourages mass draft evasion," Hendel asserted. He believes the Religious Zionist Party, distinct from its community, is causing a "catastrophe and a disgrace during wartime" by supporting anti-Zionist legislation and hindering the war effort.

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In politics, apparently, everything is permitted, but in the moral, ethical and Jewish world, it cannot be that someone who calls himself ‘Religious Zionism’ encourages mass draft evasion.

Hendel, who has completed over 560 days of reserve duty, outlined his vision for a broad Zionist government that would not depend on haredi or Arab parties. He emphasized that Zionist values extend beyond settlement in the West Bank to include defending the northern border and supporting Gaza border communities. He warned that continued political dependence on haredi parties could fracture Israeli society, leading to a "non-Zionist majority" and the breakdown into autonomous regions.

Hendel's party platform combines right-wing positions on settlement and the judicial system with a demand for shared national service. "The most basic thing is that every Israeli citizen, Jewish, Arab, haredi (ultra-Orthodox), secular, left-wing or right-wing, should do something for his country," he said. He also criticized the involvement of elected officials who have not served in the military.

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The most basic thing is that every Israeli citizen, Jewish, Arab, haredi (ultra-Orthodox), secular, left-wing or right-wing, should do something for his country.