Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his most direct and confrontational statement yet on drafting the ultra-Orthodox community.
In a campaign video styled as a comedic "interview" with the character Abu Tabla, Netanyahu laid out his position in stark terms: "I'm dying to draft them (the haredi public), and we will draft them."
The prime minister sought to distinguish between those genuinely studying Torah and street protesters, emphasizing: "Torah scholars I respect, but whoever says 'we'll die before we enlist', you know where he's going? To prison!"
Netanyahu also highlighted the IDF's dedicated haredi tracks, boasting: "I established the Hashmona'im Brigade, they fight like great warriors."
The remarks come against the backdrop of an increasingly firm stance from haredi parties in recent weeks, making clear their relationship with Netanyahu depends solely on concrete actions.
Haredi factions are emphasizing that even if a right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu secures 61 Knesset seats, they will not join the government or support the first state budget until the status of yeshiva students is regulated and a draft law meeting their demands is passed.
United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher told Kikar Hashabat studio: "We have a trust problem and a problem with this bloc, with Likud and with its leader. What will happen the day after the elections? It's impossible to know – in any case, we're not automatically in on anything!"
