Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant has asked “all parties” in the government to support his military service reform, which aims to include ultra-Orthodox Jews – a decision that is being interpreted as a rebuke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, as well as Israel’s war in response to the Palestinian Islamist movement that governs the Gaza Strip, Israel has increased the debate over military cost sharing.
At a press conference in Tel Aviv last night, the Defence Minister stated that sharing the burden of military duty has been a national concern for the past 75 years.
“This challenge came to us at the time of war, such as we have not experienced for 75 years. That is why we must unite and make decisions that ‘we haven’t made for 75 years,'” he added, referring to the year of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
In Israel, military service is mandatory, although ultra-Orthodox Jews may be spared if they devote their time to studying Judaism’s sacred writings.
In his address, Yoav Galant stated that he would only bring the military service reform to parliament if it had support from “all parties in the coalition.”
Benny Gantz, a former Defence Minister and member of the Security Cabinet, appreciated Yoav Galant’s statement.
Galant’s speech is the most significant remark made since the killing on October 7. It was considerably more explosive and strong than all those praises for a ‘complete victory’ since it granted Gantz and Eisenkot of the Blue and White party the right of veto, says the right-centre newspaper “Maariv” today.
After the war began, the moderate party’s leaders, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
According to the most popular Hebrew newspaper, “Yedioth Ahronoth,” Galant, a Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud member, “incited” the latter and his allies from ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties by contingenting the reform on their support.
