Since the last election, and before it, I've been reading that we're useful idiots for the left. That we're ungrateful and incapable of seeing the achievements the Religious Zionism party made during the last term. That our actions will bring a government of the left and Arabs. But those calling us useful idiots of the left haven't noticed that they themselves are useful idiots of the chareidim.
And I stand amazed. Are intelligent and beloved people truly this blind? Are they incapable of stepping outside the mindset that everything is based on consciousness engineering, which is true on both sides, and that there's no truth or complexity, that there are people who think differently and base their words on reality? In this discourse it seems there's no possibility for substantive discussion, and when there are no answers, people turn to insults and demagoguery without addressing the arguments, only delegitimizing the other.
So here it is. For the benefit of those people, I say clearly: Of course I understand that the left has used and will use the chareidi issue and other matters to attack right-wing rule. Of course I understand that the left, or the "change" bloc, the moment it's able to reach power, will completely reverse itself and do all the things it attacked the right for, claiming they were immoral or illegal, but for them it's permitted. And there's no doubt that such an approach by the left toward the chareidim, exactly as in the Oslo days, like the approach, with all the differences, to the Arabs, is wrong and represents complete cynicism and harm to the state's future. But we don't act based on what the left says or does. We have worldviews and beliefs, and the fact that there's coincidental alignment between things shouldn't cause us to change our path and opinions.
The draft and integration issue: a point of no return for the economy and security
I believe with complete faith that there's an obligation to draft everyone, without exception, while allowing a limited number to defer their service or enlist in unique frameworks according to the army's needs, and this applies to athletes, academics, and l'havdil also to Torah students, for whom there's no Torah justification for receiving a blanket and absolute exemption.
But whoever thinks the draft issue stands alone is mistaken. The issue is the integration of chareidim into all areas of life and the economy in the state. We're approaching a point of no return, where the damage to the state's future, to the economy and its strength, won't allow us to continue being one of the leading and strongest countries in the world.
It's impossible to continue allowing chareidim to live as a separate shtetl as if they still live in exile and aren't a significant part of the Israeli mosaic. Everything must be done to enable chareidim to preserve their religion while integrating into practical life in the state, exactly as they do in many countries. And it must be emphasized that the Torah never intended for everyone to sit all day their entire lives and live off the charity of others, and that even when this existed, it was done with the agreement of both sides and not through coercion by one side.
