Netanyahu tells ultra-Orthodox border police there is 'no contradiction between Torah and service' and to 'wield the sword of David'

Speaking to a group of ultra-Orthodox Israeli Border Police, known as the Avnet company, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “There is no contradiction between Torah and service,” and that Israel must “wield the sword of David.”

“We are in a struggle for our existence, for the existence of Israel, the Torah of Israel, the Land of Israel and the State of Israel,” he told them, standing alongside National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel Police Inspector General Danny Levy, and Border Police Commander Brik Yitzhak.

“This is an unceasing struggle,” he continued. “We have achieved victories, and need to wield the sword of David in order to exist here. We need our heritage, but also the brandished sword, because we are fighting those who have come to destroy us.”

Netanyahu also praised the haredi fighters of the Border Police for their ability to reconcile ultra-Orthodox beliefs with armed service in the Israeli government.

“I am very pleased to hear that you have found here the ability to maintain an ultra-orthodox, religious, lifestyle, which is very important; this is the intention. The intention is to continue holding both the sword and the Torah.”

The prime minister said that the Israeli government is “in a process of very important change in order to show the great contribution of all parts of society,” calling those gathered “pioneers.”

“It is important to understand – there is no contradiction between Torah and service,” he said. “We are taking care to cancel this contradiction, and you – in effect – are taking care to do so. You are here doing the sacred mitzvah – of ensuring the eternity of Israel.”

Netanyahu has recently faced significant opposition from ultra-Orthodox groups, who have long resisted attempts by the government to impose mandatory military service on their community.

Last month, ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas left Netanyahu’s government due to ongoing disputes over this issue.

Moshe Gafni, the head of UTJ’s Degel Hatorah faction, blamed “religious Zionists” for recent efforts to draft Torah students, the Times of Israel reported.

“The ones who are leading the war against Torah students are the religious Zionists,” Gafni said.

Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party, criticized both Netanyahu and Likud Knesset Member Yuli Edelstein for failing to protect Torah students.

Edelstein became the subject of intense criticism from the ultra-Orthodox community after an enlistment bill he prepared did not meet their demands concerning protections for Torah students who refuse to enlist when drafted.

Rabbi Yosef called Netanyahu a “blind fox,” and criticized Edelstein for being raised by an Orthodox Christian priest, according to the Times of Israel.

“There is one, whose father converted to Christianity and is a priest – this one grew up in a priest’s home and he’s doing all the trouble to the yeshiva students,” he said.

Edelstein’s father, George, himself born to a Jewish father and a Christian mother, converted to Orthodox Christianity along with his Jewish wife Anita in the 1970s.

Yuli Edelstein, who was born in 1958, did not convert with his parents and has continued to identify with Judaism throughout his life.

“He’s with a kippa, and he’s making all the trouble,” Rabbi Yosef said of Edelstein. “Your father is a priest! You will come and harm the Torah students?”

The rabbi has also criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was present during Netanyahu’s speech on Wednesday.

Criticizing Ben Gvir’s repeated visits to the Temple Mount, Rabbi Yosef has said that he “sins and causes others to sin.”