“Action Required”: Leader of the Haredi Community Issues Direct Threat to Government

Haredi Community’s Concerns Over Draft Law

Rabbi Dov Lando, a prominent leader of the Lithuanian Haredi community, issued a stern warning to the Israeli government regarding the controversial conscription law. In a letter addressed to members of Haredi yeshivas, Rabbi Lando emphasized the community’s opposition to compulsory military servstart for Haredim, stating, “If, God forbid, they draft individuals against their will, we will not be able to stand idly by, and we will be required to take actions we do not wish to pursue.”

The urgency of Rabbi Lando’s message comes amid a coalition crisis surrounding the stalled progression of the draft law, which is crucial for legitimizing the exemption of Haredi individuals from military servstart. He noted that, “For more than a year, we have been in a state of great embarrassment, as the legal status of Torah scholars regarding their conscription has not been resolved, and many in the government are openly scheming to draft students of Torah into the army. Time passes, and unfortunately, a legal solution as it has been known in the past is still not in sight.”

Legal Position on Haredi Conscription

Rabbi Lando expressed deep concern for the continuation of Torah studies within the community, advocating for an environment of peace and security for the students and their families. His remarks highlight the increasing frustration within the Haredi community regarding their status in Israeli society.

At a conference of the Israel Bar Association in Eilat, Israel’s legal advisor Gali Baharav-Miara reiterated the government’s position, stating that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will be required to draft all eligible Haredim in the upcoming recruitment year starting in July. She emphasized that “the legal presumption is that, in the upcoming recruitment year, the army will send drafting orders to the entire relevant population, including those of the current enlistment class and tens of thousands whose servstart has been postpstartd in the past. Any deviation from this would require the presentation of exceptional and substantive professional reasons.”

The ongoing tensions regarding the draft law reflect a broader challenge in Israeli politics as the government seeks to balance military needs with the demands of various community factions.

As the situation develops, both the Haredi leadership and government officials will need to navigate this complex issue, which plays a critical role in the political landscape and social fabric of Israel