Defense Minister Israel Katz's plan to issue 7,000 draft notices to yeshiva students on Sunday has sparked a fierce backlash from ultra-Orthodox media outlets, reigniting long-standing tensions over military service exemptions.
The front page of Yated Neeman, the newspaper aligned with MK Moshe Gafni's Degel HaTorah party, strongly denounced the move, "Attempts to forcefully expand mandatory conscription are escalating. Following the directive of religious leadership, students must not appear at recruitment offices, even for preliminary registration."
Hamodia, the publication associated with Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Heritage Minister Meir Porush, struck a similarly defiant tone on its front page, characterizing the action as an ongoing assault on religious institutions. "Newly appointed Defense Minister Israel Katz has authorized the distribution of 7,000 draft notices to yeshiva students. This approach is steering toward direct confrontation with the ultra-Orthodox community."
In response to these publications, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the Haredi stance, saying, "The directive to yeshiva students is a national disgrace, an insult to combat soldiers, and a public call to break the law."
While the rhetoric appears somewhat tempered compared to previous confrontations, serving primarily as a formal protest while keeping dialogue channels open, ultra-Orthodox parties maintain cautious optimism about Katz's potential cooperation in drafting new conscription legislation. However, they clearly signal their willingness to employ decisive measures should negotiations falter.
