Yair Lapid Criticizes IDF Exemption for Ultra-Orthodox Jews

dressing Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Israeli Opposition Leer Yair Lapid voiced strong criticism over ongoing exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from IDF service during a heated debate on ultra-Orthodox draft bill.

Lapid emphasized urgency of situation, stating, “This week re were alrey 16 funerals of IDF soldiers.” He stressed that groups like Hamas and Hezbollah do not discriminate between “secular and religious and ultra-Orthodox”. “y want to kill us all, and refore we all need to mobilize to defend ourselves,” Lapid declared. 

Current system unfair, suggests Lapid 

He underscored unfairness of current conscription system, which exempts tens of thousands of young ultra-Orthodox men from military service. “ current situation, where re are tens of thousands of young people exempt from conscription was always unfair, now it is impossible. Impossible on ethical level, impossible on operational level.”

Lapid called for an immediate and thorough discussion to create a fairer bill, urging lawmakers to avoid political motivations and focus on security needs. “ eyes of fighters and eyes of ir families are in this room and if y make wrong decisions here, people will die. If army is not given tools it needs, people will die. If we engage in political considerations here inste of security considerations, people will die,” he warned.

In closing, Lapid me a strong appeal for swift passage of a revised bill. “ army needs soldiers now,” he said, emphasizing critical need for legislative action to ensure all citizens contribute to national defense efforts.