In the theatrical world of Israeli politics, where grandstanding often supersedes governance and coalition arithmetic takes precedence over national interest, Likud MK Yuli Edelstein stands as a rare figure of principle and one deserving of both the public’s and his party’s support. While haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties throw tantrums and abandon their government posts, Edelstein has done something revolutionary in politics: his job.
The chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has faced a torrent of abuse for crafting a conscription law that would actually conscript people who, in 75 years of the state, have never been conscripted. In a country where “shared burden” has become a hollow slogan, Edelstein dared to propose legislation with real sanctions, genuine oversight, and meaningful numbers. Some accuse him of dragging his feet, but no more than is par for the course in Israeli politics.
The response from the haredi parties last week was swift and predictable. United Torah Judaism stormed out of the government entirely, while Shas performed a calculated half-exit, leaving the government but remaining in the coalition. Their message was clear. Any law that requires ultra-Orthodox youth to serve their country is unacceptable, regardless of how it’s packaged.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid captured the essence of this shameful spectacle perfectly last week when he stated, “It takes an infinite amount of audacity on the part of the Shas and UTJ factions to issue a statement that talks about ‘a political game on the backs of the servants’ and ‘cynical exploitation of the families’ pain.’ The IDF has hundreds of casualties in this war, every morning we all wake up to ‘permission to publish,’ but their voters sleep peacefully.”
Lapid’s words cut to the heart of the matter. While Israeli soldiers are killed, reservists leave families and livelihoods, and the country bears the burden of war, the haredi parties rage at any suggestion their constituents might contribute. They decry exploitation while perpetuating the most cynical political game of all – exempting an entire population from the fundamental obligation of citizenship.
The personal attacks against Edelstein have been particularly vicious. Over the past month, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi accused him of attempting to sabotage the government from within. Ultra-Orthodox leaders have painted him as a traitor to the coalition. Most shamefully, former chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef launched a series of unprecedented personal attacks. First, he declared of Edelstein: “May his soul be abhorred, he was a prisoner of Zion and came to the land. It’s a pity, he should have stayed there.” But Yosef wasn’t finished. Last week, he escalated further.
“There is one whose father converted to Christianity. He is causing all the trouble for the yeshiva boys. He wears a kippah... and causes all the troubles. Your father is a priest; he has converted! You will come and harm Torah scholars?”
Coordinated campaign of character assassination
This coordinated campaign of character assassination extends beyond Yosef. Arye Deri has accused Edelstein of lying, while Torah Sages from UTJ and MK Yaakov Asher have joined the media assault against him.
These attacks are an abomination against someone who moved to Israel after suffering for his Zionist beliefs in his homeland. Edelstein was indeed a “prisoner of Zion,” one of thousands of Soviet Jews who believed in Zionism, who endured persecution and imprisonment. To attack such a person, and from a former chief rabbi too, represents a moral nadir that should appall every Israeli, regardless of religious observance or political affiliation.
Yosef’s words reveal the ugly truth behind the ultra-Orthodox parties’ opposition to military service: Is it actually about Torah study or religious obligation? Or maintaining a separate society with separate rules, even when that comes at the cost of national solidarity during wartime?
Edelstein’s proposal wasn’t perfect, but legislation rarely is. It was a compromise, an attempt to address a real problem with real solutions. His law included sanctions, oversight, and promised to end the “disgrace” of false Torah scholar claims.
The haredi parties had a choice: engage constructively, propose amendments, and negotiate in good faith. Instead, they chose the nuclear option, to walk out. In doing so, they have exposed the hollowness of their commitment to national unity and the selfishness of their political calculations. While Edelstein stood firm on principle, they stood firm on privilege.