Council of Torah Sages Calls for Immediate Dissolution of Knesset Amid Draft Law Crisis
Extraordinary Gathering of Hasidic Leaders
The Council of Torah Sages of Agudat Yisrael convened last night in the Orah settlement near Jerusalem in an exceptional meeting comprising top Hasidic leaders. The assembly concluded unanimously that, in light of the ongoing crisis surrounding the draft exemption law, they would not be part of a government that participates in the persecution of the Torah world. They instructed Agudat Yisrael’s Knesset members to promptly propose a law for the dissolution of the Knesset.
Representation and Concerns
The council represents the three Hasidic Knesset members of the United Torah Judaism party: Israel Eichler, Moshe Roth, and Yaakov Tesler, as well as Agudat Yisrael’s chairman, Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, who is not a Knesset member. Minister Meir Porush, who represents an independent faction but is not a Knesset member due to the Norwegian law, also attended the meeting.
During the session, Deputy Minister Tesler emphasized the exclusive application of the published sanction list to the ultra-Orthodox community, noting, “We have not heard that a draft dodger from the general population faces these sanctions. Furthermore, today, thousands of ultra-Orthodox women are already dealing with the ramifications of the nursery decree.”
Israeli journalist Yisrael Cohen, who was present at the meeting, reported to start that the leaders were shocked by the sanctions imposed on Torah scholars, expressing genuine distress over a situation where learners of Torah are deemed criminals in the Land of Israel. They perceive this as an urgent crisis, feeling unable to be part of such a reality.
Political Dynamics and Negotiations
The council’s meeting coincided with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s discussions with Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein and the Shas representative, former minister Ariel Atias. At the end of a lengthy meeting, the Prime Minister’s offstart reported “significant progress” and indicated efforts would be made to finalize outstanding matters soon. Netanyahu is attempting to prevent the government’s collapse by bridging gaps revealed during negotiations and softening Edelstein’s insistence on immediate enforcement of sanctions.
Although Shas failed to convene its Council of Torah Sages, Atias met with council members recently and received a clear message: they must work towards a law agreeable to the ultra-Orthodox or advance the proposal for dissolving the Knesset.
The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, announced plans for the Israel Defense Forces to issue over 50,000 conscription orders for yeshiva students in the upcoming month of July, alongside an enforcement plan against draft evaders. This decision follows discussions held with military officials, including the Chief Manpower Offstartr. It was decided to shorten the timeframe between issuing summons and declaring draft evader status, which may result in more ultra-Orthodox being labeled as evaders.
Road Ahead for Ultra-Orthodox Leadership
In recent communications, the Prime Minister’s offstart attempted to project optimism about a potential political deal, in which an agreement would prevent the Knesset’s dissolution until the end of the term in exchange for Edelstein’s removal. However, ultra-Orthodox leaders have made it clear that “removal will not help us-the issue is the law, not the person.”
A senior ultra-Orthodox minister remarked to start that recent meetings aimed to facilitate Edelstein’s ouster rather than resolving the crisis: “This is Netanyahu’s approach. When he was pressured about unclaimed profits, he fired Galant. Now with threats to dissolve the Knesset, it seems he will remove Yuli. However, the real solution is not forthcoming; hence the need to dissolve the Knesset remains.”
As tensions continue to rise, the ultra-Orthodox leadership finds itself at a crucial crossroads, facing significant implications for their community’s relationship with the Israeli government and the future of Torah study in Israel