In stormy Knesset session, Netanyahu defends Haredi Draft Bill, defends handling of war against opposition

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Haredi Draft Bill, often referred to in Israeli media as the Haredi draft exemption law, for the first time on Monday. The bill has provoked significant controversy in the government and the Israeli public. 

“We have placed the draft law on the Knesset table,” Netanyahu said in his remarks to the Knesset. “This is the beginning of a historic process for integrating the ultra-Orthodox community into service in the IDF and the security services.” 

Netanyahu’s comments came as part of a speech during the so-called 40-signature debate held in the Knesset on the issue of “the collapse of Israel's international status.” The 40-signature debate is a parliamentary mechanism that allows the opposition parties to force the prime minister to appear in the Knesset at least once a month, as long as they get 40 signatures by opposition MKs requesting his presence. 

The Knesset debate, along with a diplomatic meeting, led Netanyahu to request that his testimony in his corruption trial be canceled for that day, which was granted. 

The prime minister defended his government’s handling of the war, and said that the opposition’s claim that there has been a “collapse in Israel’s international status” is not true. 

Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that four world powers have maintained ties and communication with Israel during the war, saying, “The United States, India, Germany, Russia - four powers with which ties have strengthened greatly in the last two years.” 

“Many states around the world and very many world leaders are seeking us out, in the Middle East, the Far East, in America and Africa. We have additional contacts with another world power, Russia. I speak with Putin regularly.” 

Netanyahu also said that "Israel is the strongest power in the Middle East – and in certain areas, a world power. All thanks to the heroism of our fighters, the resilience of our people – and the courageous decisions made by the government led by me, and the management of our economy. The shekel is in the best condition, foreign transactions are flowing on a huge scale.” 

He went on to refer to his expected trip to Florida to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, noting, “This will be the sixth meeting with him since the beginning of his presidency – more than any other leader. The United States and Israel are two separate countries, and we have relationships based on common relations and common interests.” 

Regarding the Haredi Draft Bill, Netanyahu said that "the law incorporates significant draft targets, four times what the law that the 'White Paper' and 'Sign Here' government brought to the ultra-Orthodox community, to the members of Knesset. And this law says that every additional regular battalion from the ultra-Orthodox community will free up 10 reserve battalions. It's simple math.” 

He also claimed that the law would preserve the “status of Torah scholars whose Torah is their art.” 

“The world of Torah has protected us for thousands of years, and it will continue to protect us. You don't want conscription – you want non-conscription,” he stated, going on the attack. 

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who spoke at the Knesset session, responded to Netanyahu regarding the bill, referring to Netanyahu’s canceled statement to the media about the draft bill.  

"The real reason you ran away is that there is no way to explain this law. There is no way to protect it. Not after 1,200 murdered. Not after more than 920 soldiers have been killed in the past two years defending the homeland. Not after the worst massacre in our history, which has become the longest war in our history. This law will not pass, you know it will not pass,” Lapid charged. 

There were several moments where shouting erupted between coalition and opposition MKs, and many times Netanyahu was interrupted by opposition MKs criticizing his actions before and after the start of the war. 

Netanyahu attacked the opposition over his war policy, claiming, "You said 'no' to everything, just to submit to Hamas' dictates. Then [Yahya] Sinwar would still be alive, [Mohammed] Deif would be alive, and [Hassan] Nasrallah. I refused to submit to your defeatist and abysmal weakness.” 

Members of Yesh Atid responded that he was the one who released Sinwar in the Gilad Shalit deal, and approved the transfer of suitcases of Qatari money to Hamas.

Netanyahu also spoke regarding the establishment of a committee to investigate the events of Oct. 7, 2023. 

"We are promoting a national investigative committee to investigate the events of October 7 and what led up to them,” Netanyahu claimed. The establishment and composition of the investigative committee will be done on an equal footing between the coalition and the opposition.” 

He also claimed, “This will be an independent investigative committee that will gain broad public trust.” 

“This will not be an Etrog committee,” Netanyahu said, using Israeli political slang to describe preferential treatment given to a political figure. “This will be an Etgar [Hebrew for challenge] committee. Everyone will be challenged.” 

Public polls show most Israelis favor a state commission of inquiry, as was launched after the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Despite not being investigated during that investigation, then-Prime Minister Golda Meir resigned following the publishing of the report, in recognition of her responsibilities as the head of the government to prevent such a disaster.