Bismuth elected FADC head, ousting Edelstein over haredi draft bill

Heated clashes on the topic of Bismuth’s appointment and the legislation surrounding the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription law took place for over five hours before the first round of votes was conducted at the Knesset’s House Committee.

Bismuth was then officially appointed by the FADC in a second vote.

Haredi politicians had opposed Edelstein’s attempts to insert enforcement and oversight mechanisms to ensure that haredim who receive an exemption from IDF service are actually studying in yeshivot, and Edelstein refused to enable a law to pass that would de facto enable the majority of eligible haredi men to evade service.

Just before the meeting began, Edelstein released for the first time the version of the conscription law that led to the controversy and his ultimate dismissal.

Edelstein stood firmly by the bill he had drafted, defending his reasoning for going ahead with it despite the strong opposition from the haredi parties.

The draft of the law set graduated conscription targets for yeshiva students over five years, with a gradual annual conscription requirement starting at 5,760 soldiers in 2025 and rising to 9,500 soldiers in the fifth year.

“From the start, I said this wouldn’t be a fake draft law,” Edelstein explained, referring to the previous arrangement established by law for the deferral of haredi recruitment, which expired in 2023.

“I fought for a fair draft law, but the haredi leadership refused. Changing the chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee won’t change anything,” he continued.

“This removal will only lead to chaos, especially as the IDF begins enforcement operations. Today’s vote is the final nail in the coffin of the draft law. I appeal to the serving public – this issue is in my blood, even if we’ve had disagreements. I promise not to abandon you and to continue working for a real draft law, in the committee or outside.”

UTJ co-leader Yitzhak Goldknopf told the committee that his party “did not want a draft-dodging law.”

“We wanted a lasting arrangement that would allow anyone whose Torah is their faith to continue studying. Even those who sit and study Torah day and night – we must ensure that they can continue to learn,” he said.

MKs attending the meeting repeatedly raised the issue of a lack of manpower in the IDF, and soldiers and reservists are no longer able to bear the load without the conscription of further soldiers from the haredi population.

Yesh Atid MK Meirav Cohen condemned the move to replace Edelstein as Israel’s “soldiers and reservists are collapsing under the burden.”

“There is no clause in the rules about replacing a chair who has done nothing wrong. You’re setting a dangerous precedent. Replacing the chair now means dragging out the process again [for the conscription bill to be passed]. What message does this send to the soldiers in the field?”

In strong defense of Bismuth’s appointment, Likud MK Tally Gotliv expressed,  “For over a year, I’ve been saying the chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee should be replaced. He prevented us from overseeing the military leadership. We’ve had 40 discussions with no outcome. We will enact a law that will lead to haredi enlistment.”

Gotliv also underscored her belief that “Bismuth has a deep understanding of the Middle East and a solid security outlook.”

Bereaved families of hostages and soldiers slammed the MKs attending the committee meeting, calling for the return of the hostages, and many calling for haredi conscription as well.

A large sign was held up on the committee room’s table with the words “Where is Rom?” referring to the hostage Rom Braslavski, who was seen suffering from severe hunger in a recently published Palestinian Islamic Jihad video.