Defense Minister Gallant gave a special statement to the press just now (Wednesday), addressing recent events in Gaza and the North and the debates revolving around the draft of Charedim into the IDF. Gallant made it clear that a consensus draft laws was needed which would include shared burdens and drafting of the Charedi public, and called on the government to work to advance an improved plan for that purpose.
“I appeal to my friends in the government and the coalition and say: the State of Israel belongs to the Jewish People. The Torah protected the Jewish People for 2000 years of exile, and we cherish those who devoted their lives to Torah study. The challenges we face prove: without physical existence, there is no spiritual existence. Everyone must bear the burden, all parts of the nation.”
“In the last few weeks I met with Netanyahu, the State Camp party, and the Charedi factions. We can and it is important to reach a draft plan, including for a large portion of the Charedi public,” Gallant noted. “I call on the Prime Minister to lead a shared effort of all the factions of the coalition and to form a consensus outline for a draft. I also hope parts of the opposition will join the needed outline.”
“Any draft laws which is agreed upon by all parties of the emergency government – will be acceptable to me,” the Defense Minister said. He stressed that “without the agreement of all parts of the coalition, the defense establishment under my leadership will not submit the law. The shared bearing of the burden is vital to victory in war. It’s not a party matter, it’s not a sectorial matter, it’s a supreme national security matter.”
