Finance Committee Chair Hanoch Milwidsky defended the committee's decision to allocate budgets during the parliamentary recess and warned the haredi community against considering political alternatives with left-wing parties, in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat.
Regarding the budget allocations approved despite the recess, he stated: "We and the Knesset speaker are not prepared for budgets necessary for security, settlement enterprises, haredi education, and local authorities to stop. Only the opposition wants Israel to suffer over the next three months so it helps them in elections. This cannot happen."
On Military Service
Addressing conscription of yeshiva students, he argued that differentiation should be based on actual Torah study rather than blanket exemptions. "There is no dispute that someone who studies Torah should continue studying, at least not among us. But someone who doesn't study, why should he be exempt? Especially today, when the army has adapted tracks that allow a haredi youth to enter haredi and leave haredi, with specialized kashrut, no women, and a tailored daily schedule."
When asked why the IDF had not promoted such tracks before October 7, he responded: "A haredi soldier in the Hashmonaim brigade is worth far more than a non-haredi soldier. Before the disaster, the IDF was controlled by a progressive conception of 'small and smart army.' After the massacre, they understood they need a large army. Commanders like Brigadier General Dudu Cohen now understand that to bring more haredi youth, you have to show they come home haredi and preserve their way of life."
Sharp Attacks on Attorney General, Opposition
Milwidsky harshly criticized the Attorney General's office, accusing it of criminalizing an entire population: "The Attorney General overnight turned a normal group of 80-90,000 people into criminals. This is a group fighting for its bureaucratic survival because it knows it is losing the demographic and faith-based struggle."
He directed particularly sharp language toward opposition members, specifically Yair Golan: "People like Yair Golan sanctify hatred as a work tool. These are very dangerous people with whom you cannot forge any partnership. This entire gang that calls itself 'democrats' is planning exactly the opposite of democracy."
He then made a provocative statement: "Even Ahmad Tibi and Ayman Odeh have more value for Torah than these people."
Warning to Haredi Parties
Addressing divisions within haredi parties considering alternative political alignments, he delivered a blunt warning: "All talk that the left will allow Jews to sit and study Torah is an illusion and smoke. Their possible coalition partners will not permit it. MK Gilad Kariv speaks about nationalizing independent education, arrests, and closing channels. The notion that you can break the breaker and reach an understanding with him is wrong. This breaker will return to pursue you afterward. They will not leave you in peace."
He emphasized that the natural coalition for haredi interests remains the religious camp: "We will never harm the Torah world. We protect it as best we can."
Admission of Judicial Reform Failure
In closing remarks, he acknowledged the government's failure to advance judicial system changes during the current Knesset session: "We don't really control the system. The entire story of judicial reform didn't work and we failed at it. The public understands that the judicial system, which has no oversight or restraint, is what sabotages and blocks all our moves."
He warned fellow right-wing lawmakers: "If we do not make this change in the next term, we cannot ask for public trust because they will not give it to us. This is the last chance. Like in football, you bring a good season, they extend your contract. You don't bring results, they fire you. That is exactly what they will do to us if we don't deliver results."
