For many, the right-wing platform of Otzma Yisrael, the party headed by Prof. Aryeh Eldad seems a viable option as they wish to have a Knesset opposing any and all land concession to the PA (Palestinian Authority).
What needs to be realized is while Eldad is indeed a fighter for Eretz Yisrael, when it comes to permitting bnei Torah to remain in yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael. Eldad’s vision is not exactly in line with the position of Gedolei Yisrael Shlita.
It was about a half year ago when Eldad presented a bill that permits 2,000 Bnei Torah to continue learning while the remainder, about 58,000 would be compelled to serve in the IDF or an approved public service program. Those defying this arrangement would lose all government funding and discounts, creating an impossible situation for any of the bnei Torah not included among the 2,000 “geniuses” permitted to continue limud Torah. Eldad feels a system would be established by which the top students would be singled out and they alone would be permitted to declare limud Torah their fulltime profession.
When the Arabs challenged Otzma Yisrael’s campaign slogan as being racist for saying one who does not serve should not be entitled to benefits, Otzma Yisrael was honest in its response, for it applies to chareidim as well as Arabs and the right-wing party is not at all targeting Arabs exclusively.
Realizing some chareidim, who are generally politically right-wing, might be contemplating voting for Otzma Yisrael is working to educate the tzibur as to the party’s position vis-à-vis drafting bnei Torah.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
ח”כ אלדד מצביע נגד גיוס בני הישיבות – בניגוד לעמדת חבריו מ’הבית היהודי’
בנושאים העומדים על הפרק כמו גיוסי בני הישיבות, תחבורה ציבורית בשבת וגיור על פי הלכה היו חברי הכנסת בן ארי ואלדד האצבעות הנוספות של היהדות החרדית במהלך הקדנציה האחרונה – וזאת בניגוד לעמדת אורי אורבך וחבריו בבית היהודי ששיתפו פעולה עם ח”כי קדימה וקידמו חוקים הנלחמים בבחורי הישיבות.
רק בקיץ האחרון הגישה מפלגת ישראל ביתנו הצעת חוק לחייב בשירות צבאי כל צעיר מגיל 18 וחבר הכנסת אלדד – למרות שאינו חובש כיפה – הצביע נגד הצעת החוק. על חבר הכנסת בן ארי התבטא הח”כ אורי מקלב מ’יהדות התורה’ שהוא האצבע השישית של ‘יהדות התורה’ בכנסת.
גם בקדנציה הבאה ייאבקו הח”כים אלדד ובן ארי על שמירת הסטטוס-קוו ויפעלו נגד תוכנית “הבית היהודי” להתיר תחבורה ציבורית בשבת ולפרוץ את חומת הגיור היהודי.
Right-wing hareidim who want to be baal ha-battim would welcome the opportuntiy to serve in the army if the army was truely willing to accomodate them (and serving in segregated units, similar to the American “colored regiments” or the British “native regiments”, doesn’t qualify). However as long as the IDF is ultra-secular, and sees itself as a melting part to mold the “new” secular Israeli, this won’t work. You’ll know there has been change when left winger upper class “elites” start asking for their own segregated units because the army is too Jewish.
Non-zionist hareidim, even those with no desire to learn all day, will refuse to serve in IDF since they feel the state is apikorsidik. If the Israelis try to draft them, they will resist, and their resistance will not only make it harder for more-zionist hareidim to serve, but may serious hurt Israel internationally since non-zionist hareidim will appeal to international human rights groups.
one has to realize that if our foundation is being attacked then min hashomayim we are being sent a message that possibly we r not being machshiv Torah enough
“or an approved public service program”
Perhaps information regarding an approved public service program, is necessary.
A large segment of the CHaredei kehilla are right wing for security and many live in Yehuda VShomron (Betar, Kiryat Sefer, Modiim, Moshav Mattisyahu, etc), they desire a party that holds strong policies vis a vee Arab negociations and security issues. Where does UTJ and Shas stand on these particulars?
“When the Arabs challenged Otzma Yisrael’s campaign slogan as being racist for saying one who does not serve should not be entitled to benefits, Otzma Yisrael was honest in its response, for it applies to chareidim as well as Arabs and the right-wing party is not at all targeting Arabs exclusively.
Realizing some chareidim, who are generally politically right-wing, might be contemplating voting for Otzma Yisrael is working to educate the tzibur as to the party’s position vis-à-vis drafting bnei Torah”
These last two paragraphs make no sense, in part due to poor grammar. Does anyone there bother to edit these news items before you post them?
This is unfortunate. Chareidi ideology is not right wing at all. It is time for a clear break from the right wing, settlement, and Mizrachi movement. Religion is not and should not be synonymous with the settlement movement.
Nobody should mistake UTJ or Shas for being right wing. They have proven again and again that they are interested only in protecting themselves as opposed to the klal.
There’s a reason that despite phenomenal growth that it is many times that of their secular and even dati leumi counterparts, their representation in the Knesset does not change. The charedi tzibbur is increasingly dissatisfied and apathetic about the clowns that purport to represent them.
There is only one true right wing party in the Knesset and that is Otzma LYisroel. Bayit Yehudi is arguably centrist, Likud is leftist and everyone else is fanatical or delusional.
#6 Might be the time to leave the UN-Torahdik passivity of Europe behind and be a Torah activist for Eretz Yisroel.