Lapid calls for drafting Haredim, slams Netanyahu as 'founder of lies'
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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has responded to threats of the Haredim leaving "Israel", saying it is shameful, offensive, and a disservice to the IOF.
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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in 'Tel Aviv', occupied Palestine, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 (AP)
Israeli media quoted the head of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, as saying "If Israel does not draft the Haredim, then it does not have the right to demand more from the reservists".
Earlier, the chief Rabbi of the Sephardim, Yitzhak Yosef, threatened that the Haredim would pick up their bags and leave "Israel" if they were forced to serve in the military.
In a session motioned by the "There is a future" bloc, which has been handling the conflict regarding conscripting the Haredi Jews into the military, Lapid responded to Yosef's threat and said, "If Israel does not recruit the Haredim, then it does not have the right to send orders to reservists who have been serving for 70, 90, and 120 days [in Gaza]".
He addressed the Rabbi slamming his threat as "shameful and offensive towards Israeli soldiers who have been risking their lives for Israel. The Rabbi is a government employee, he gets paid by Israel, and he cannot threaten it. He will not be getting a single penny from Israel."
He proceeded to ask if anyone abroad would grant them the privileges they have in "Israel", adding "Are there no obligations there?"
Read more: Haredim threaten to dismantle Israeli occupation government
In the same context, Lapid attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ascertained that he would come up with a plot to manipulate the Haredim but present it as a solution, when in fact, it is not a solution.
He described him as the "founder of the culture of lies", nudging at the prime minister's pledge to increase the Haredi Jews' compensation if the High Court of Justice deprived them of these reserves and budgets.
Israeli media also reported that Israeli Cabinet member Benny Gantz was a subject of criticism, as Lapid slammed his proposal affirming that "no Haredi would comply with", saying "We cannot continue to deceive ourselves."
15,000 troops in the West Bank
Regarding the IOF, Lapid said that it had “reached its maximum capacity,” noting that “there are not enough soldiers in Gaza,” while the West Bank “lacks forces.” If clashes occur in the north, according to the opposition leader, “there would not be enough soldiers to fight,” pointing out that “the army is small, and the challenges are great.”
However, Israeli Channel 12 reported that in preparation for the month of Ramadan, Israeli authorities deployed forces to the West Bank twice as many as the forces deployed in the entire Gaza Strip.
Israeli media further reported that the Israeli occupation will deploy 15,000 troops and military police personnel across the occupied West Bank with 5,000 reserve troops, 24 battalions, and 20 squadrons of the "border police", in addition to two units of special forces.
The anxiety and alertness of the Israeli occupation police has reached its peak as the first day of Ramadan begins today amid rising warnings of operations by Palestinian freedom fighters across the occupied territories, Israeli media reported.
