Today (Wednesday) Bezalel Smotrich has thrown down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Netanyahu: either get the IDF's stamp of approval on the new draft law, or don't count on his party's support.
The Finance Minister's bold stance comes at a particularly sensitive time, just as word leaked that Netanyahu promised ultra-Orthodox parties that incoming Defense Minister Israel Katz would freeze draft orders for 7,000 young Haredi men - orders that were issued by recently fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Behind the scenes, pressure is mounting from within Smotrich's own Religious Zionist base. Bereaved families and religious-Zionist parents whose children serve in the IDF are increasingly vocal about the need for ultra-Orthodox youth to share the military burden. "This isn't just about politics anymore," one party insider noted, "it's about what's fair for all of Israel's sons and daughters."
The proposed law is supposed to sweeten the deal with perks for both regular soldiers and reservists - everything from first dibs on college admissions to better shots at public sector jobs and housing tenders.
But Committee Chairman Edelstein isn't buying it, insisting that without real consequences for draft dodging, it's all just window dressing.
At this point, it's really anyone's guess what will happen. But what we know for sure is that people are angry, and the non-decisions and inaction can't last forever.
