Lapid, Gantz Slam Draft Law: “Who Are You Fooling? This Will Not Pass”
Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz sharply attacked the government on Monday over efforts to advance legislation regulating the draft status of yeshiva students, warning that the bill would not pass and accusing the coalition of deceiving the public and undermining Israel’s security.
Speaking at the opening of their faction meetings in the Knesset, Lapid and Gantz delivered blistering criticism of what they described as a draft-evasion law. Both leaders framed their remarks against the backdrop of the ongoing war and the recovery operation to bring home the body of fallen Yassam fighter Ran Gvili Hy”d.
Gantz opened by addressing the military effort, saying: “First of all, we are all praying for the success of the operation to return the heroic Yassam fighter Ran Gvili and strengthening the IDF soldiers who are working for this sacred goal at these hours. No further easing in the Gaza Strip should be allowed until we fully exhaust the current efforts to return Ran to his family and to his land.”
He went on to outline his broader security stance, arguing that any move to a second phase must focus on dismantling Hamas rather than offering concessions. “Moving to Phase Two must begin with dismantling Hamas rule and its military power — not with an oxygen pipe for Hamas. The Rafah Crossing is only a symptom. As we said from the start of the war, the hostages should have been released as a priority — and then Hamas eliminated. Now, when we no longer have living hostages in the Strip, we also no longer have operational constraints. The job must be finished.”
Gantz further said Israel should coordinate with President Trump on a clear deadline for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control. “Even if it is right to give Trump’s initiative a chance, we must not live in the illusions of October 6. Turkish soldiers, Qatari soldiers, or even American soldiers will not eliminate Hamas. Only IDF soldiers will. In my assessment, it is not a question of if — only when. We will finish the job.”
Turning to the draft issue, Gantz said the IDF urgently needs reinforcement in manpower and resources. “The deal being formed right now of budget in exchange for draft evasion is not only corrupt and destructive to the economy. It severely harms those who serve. It sabotages our ability to bring about the final collapse of Hamas rule. It is insane to me that after everything we have been through, the government is still busy dismantling the people’s army instead of dismantling Hamas.”
Addressing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and senior Likud ministers by name, Gantz asked: “Is it really worth it to you for another three months on the chair?”
Gantz added that he has been speaking in recent weeks with serving and former Likud lawmakers and senior figures who oppose the legislation. “I am telling you: a draft exemption law will not pass. More importantly, I hear an awakening. There are many in Likud and also in Religious Zionism — serving and former Knesset members, together with key figures — who will not agree to the continuation of this destructive deal. They will not back the establishment of another government of draft evaders and extremists. This experiment not only failed and brought us disaster — it collapsed.”
He concluded by saying that the only viable solution is a broad unity government made up of those who serve. “And that is what will be.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid followed with an even more confrontational address, declaring that a clear majority in the Knesset opposes the proposed law. “In the Knesset of Israel there are not only 61 members who are against the draft-evasion law, there are 71, maybe even 81. They just need to decide that they are not willing to deceive the fighters. The draft-evasion law will not pass. We will stop it, and there will be a real draft law. Whoever does not enlist will not receive a single shekel. We will shut off the tap, and you will see how fast they enlist.”
Lapid accused the government of continuing what he called a “disgraceful farce” despite recordings that, he said, exposed the law as fraudulent. “I have one question for Netanyahu and Bismuth: why? Why are you continuing this shameful farce after the rabbis’ recordings exposed that this is a complete deception? Who are you fooling? You have been exposed. Everyone knows. The game is over.”
He cited recorded statements attributed to rabbinic figures, saying: “Rav Hirsch says in his own voice, ‘There will be no targets, God forbid that we meet targets.’ He says — and I quote, it was recorded — ‘Do they think we will want to meet the target? Of course we won’t want to. In the end the law will fall after a few years, but in the meantime we gained time.’ He admits in his own voice that this is what was agreed with him, a complete fraud law whose only purpose is to buy time.”
Lapid continued by quoting additional alleged remarks: “Rav Landau says, ‘It’s all nonsense, no one will go to the army.’ Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, a Shas representative, says, ‘The heads of the yeshivas will not send anyone.’ When asked why they pretend otherwise, he answers without blinking, ‘So that the decrees will be canceled.’ Meaning, so the budgets will return.”
He accused the government of financial motivations, saying: “This fraud, like any fraud, is also about money. Sixty billion shekels the State of Israel gives every year to draft evaders. When it comes to taking our money, they suddenly know the State of Israel very well. These people relate to the State of Israel as if it were a foreign state of gentiles, that it is a mitzvah to deceive it — and Deri and Netanyahu help them.”
Lapid concluded by reiterating his pledge to block the legislation. “This law will not pass, because there is a limit. We will stop it and there will be a real draft law. Whoever does not enlist will not receive a single shekel from the state — no daycare subsidies, no allowances, nothing. We will shut off the tap, and you will see how fast they enlist.”
{Matzav.com}
