After launching his election campaign earlier in the week, the head of the Magen party, retired IDF brigadier-general Gal Hirsch, spoke out against how “it is easy to use the chareidim as a punching bag”.

He added “I identify with the political right-wing, and my party will include a chareidi individual”. Hirsch told BeChadrei Chareidim that a new draft law can be legislated without bulldozing it along, to compel the chareidim to enter the IDF, but to find a way that will be accepted by the chareidi tzibur, to find a path which permits chareidim to contribute to the state; citing there are many ways one can contribute, and Sheirut Leumi is an example.

Hirsch’s comments were most likely prompted by the shock video released earlier in the day to his Facebook page by Yisrael Beitenu party leader Avigdor Liberman, in which he compares chareidim to Hamas.

Hirsch explains that “the IDF will decide its needs, not politicians who wish to take advantage of the draft to grab votes, using the chareidim as a punching bag to bring votes at the election polls. This is not the way of the Magen party”.

Speaking with journalist Ayelet Hasson, Hirsch added that within 36 hours of his announcing his campaign and decision to run for the 21st Knesset there is news of a tax investigation against him. “The hunt against me continues” he explained. He added it began shortly after he accepted the nomination to become the commissioner of Israel Police, as was stated by a very senior department officer to a session of the Knesset Interior Committee.

Hirsch, a decorated war hero who was the fall guy in the Second Lebanon War, eventually withdrew his candidacy for police commissioner as well, when he realized he was once again being targeted by those seeking to block his career.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)