Yisrael Ne’eman Response to Arguments Against the Great Betrayal

Yisrael sent me a response and would like to clarify/emphasize a few points. His comment is below in Italics. Any of my points will be in () with an MP at the beginning. I will just point out that there is a basic difference of perception between Yisrael and myself. 1) He is putting the Haredi population into one big “anti-Zionist” camp. I do not think you can do that. There are a variety of groups out there with different political and personal views regarding the State. 2) There is a great deal of change going on within these communities, especially between the younger and older generations in regards to army service. 3) We agree that change will come through a combination of using the “carrot and stick” method but I think that throwing down the “gauntlet” as Yisrael mentions, will be disastrous and lastly, 4) that we strongly disagree on what constitutes acting in the national interest and the idea of betrayal. There is no doubt that Yisrael feels strongly about what is happening and has very good reason for this given how he sees and understands events. However, I pray that we can work towards settling these issues through negotiation and compromise. 

One more point, Yisrael brings a number of 120,000 deferments given to Haredim. This number is a total of deferments given over years and is a bit misleading. According to the Knesset Office of Statistics and Information there are approximately 11,000 Haredim eligible for the draft, of which about 1,800 enlist. The army is working to bring that number to 4000 a year.

Yisrael Ne’eman

An alliance with the Haredim works against the interests of the state as far as the military, economic and education systems are concerned. They have moved from non-Zionist to anti-Zionist with much of their leadership comparing IDF service to “smad” or destruction (of the Jewish People).

Gallant – One has to start somewhere and yes this is shock treatment since the rabbinical leadership has made it clear there cannot be any haredim drafted – even if not in yeshiva and unemployed. Yisrael Katz, a “yes man”, replaced Gallant but knows little about military issues. This is not in state interests. 

There were 400 draft deferments in 1948 when there was a Jewish population of 630,000 and some 800 in 1977 when the Likud took over from Labor. Should we keep the same proportions to 1948 (X12) there should be some 5000 deferments for yeshiva scholars. Even double the number to 10,000 – but not over 120,000 (and claims go higher). Labor did deal with the issue and I remember being in the army reserves with haredim in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Labor was in power (Rabin/Peres) in the mid-1990s and did not really deal with the issue nor did Ehud Barak (1999-2001) but the numbers jumped exponentially with Netanyahu beginning with his 2009 government. He ensured his power by being aligned with non-Zionists who have shifted towards anti-Zionism. For me this is a betrayal. (MP: I am not sure how Labor dealt with the issue in the 70’s and 80’ but not in the 90’s and 2000’s - seems a betrayal across the board).

As for democracy – Correct, the people chose and that includes the haredim (and the Muslim Arabs) who do not support the state according to their leadership. So why not throw down the gauntlet with an ultimatum to the haredim? Because of narrow political interests to stay in power. As long as they receive whatever they ask for (and not in state interests) they will support his policies.

Furthermore Channel 14 polls say a majority supports the government at the moment. Others do not agree. (MP: Polls are irrelevant, in a parliamentary system the ruling coalition runs the government until they are voted out of office or there is a change in the coalition)

Bennett and Lapid: Were not in power long enough to really judge but the haredim were not in the government and were beginning to break due to lack of funding for institutions not teaching core courses. Bennet was in many Netanyahu governments so he gets plenty of blame. Lapid was PM for 5 months (can’t judge). Goldknapf was willing to accept the demands for English, science and math to be taught just prior to the elections of 2022 but Netanyahu insisted there was no need if he formed the coalition. Yes, for me this is a betrayal of the future of our country.

Netanyahu’s governments (2009-21 and 12/22-present) made policies of military unpreparedness with the military. But the PM and his cabinet make policy – Not the army. They are all culpable and Netanyahu has been in power more than anyone else.

The Haredim need to participate in state development going way beyond the military or they should not be served by the state.

As for Netanyahu – he did serve the state well in the past but in recent years he makes whatever deal is necessary to stay in power.