Yair Lapid Criticizes IDF Exemption for Ultra-Orthodox Jews

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

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

Current system unfair, suggests Lapid 

He underscored the unfairness of the current conscription system, which exempts tens of thousands of young ultra-Orthodox men from military service. “The current situation, where there are tens of thousands of young people exempt from conscription was always unfair, now it is impossible. Impossible on the ethical level, impossible on the 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. “The eyes of the fighters and the eyes of their families are in this room and if they make wrong decisions here, people will die. If the army is not given the tools it needs, people will die. If we engage in political considerations here instead of security considerations, people will die,” he warned.

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