Weekly Commentary: Unity Required to Save Israel From Hareidi Party

Weekly Commentary: Unity Required to Save Israel From Hareidi Party
Blackmail
Dr. Aaron Lerner
4 December 2024

The Haredi paper Mishpacha reports that Yahadut Hatorah is planning to
submit two bills to the Knesset: a “draft law,” which would be more
appropriately labeled a “haredi draft exemption law,” and a law to dissolve
the Knesset.

Both laws are set to proceed to the third and final vote, with the threat
that if the ruling coalition doesn’t support the draft exemption law, the
Haredi MKs will join the opposition during the third and final vote to
dissolve the Knesset, triggering elections 90 days later.

There are three options:

Option #1: The ruling coalition gives in to the Haredi blackmail and passes
the Haredi draft-exemption law.
If the blackmail succeeds, the Haredi MKs will then be expected by their
constituents to protect Haredim who choose a life of poverty from the
increases in national insurance and municipal tax rates scheduled to take
effect in January. It can also be anticipated that arrangements will be made
to allow Haredi educational institutions to continue operating without
serious financial or academic oversight.

Option #2: Elections.
A caretaker government would be in place during a critical window of
international upheaval, as well as the first months of the Trump
Administration.

Option #3: An Emergency Zionist Government to serve until the 27 October
2026 elections.
An Emergency Zionist Government composed of the Zionist parties would
legislate and implement the dramatic reform policies needed to ensure
Israel’s future.
The coalition’s goal would be to end the system of support for able-bodied
men who choose poverty and to eliminate financial support for educational
institutions (up to high school) that fail to provide students with the
basic education needed to participate productively in the Israeli economy.
Regarding IDF service, no new Draft Law would be enacted, leaving the matter
in the hands of the IDF.

Option #1 would be a disaster for the country.
Option #2 would be a loss.
Option #3 would secure our future.

My fervent hope is that Zionist party leaders seize the opportunity created
by this Haredi blackmail to pursue Option #3.

If this were to transpire, then, as the Tannaic sage Nachum Ish Gamzu said,
“This too is for the good.”

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