Eisenkot slams coalition's draft-dodging Basic Law as a strike at national spine

A Strike at National Resilience

Speaking on Wednesday evening, Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, framed the coalition's legislative efforts as a dangerous shift in Israel's security ethos. He accused the government of creating a "bypass track" for draft evasion at a time when the burden on serving soldiers and reservists has reached historic highs. "The attempt to turn evasion into a Basic Law is a direct hit to our national spine," Eisenkot stated, emphasizing that the price paid by those in uniform is becoming unbearable.

Political Survival vs. Security

The former Chief of Staff's critique centers on the motivation behind the legislation. Eisenkot alleged that those who supported the preliminary vote on the Basic Law: Torah Study are prioritizing the survival of the current government over the strength of the IDF and Israeli society. This follows reports of a coalition arrangement where Haredi parties would support government continuity in exchange for the law's passage through three readings.

The Context of the Burden

Eisenkot’s remarks come amid a broader political firestorm. Other figures, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and MK Yuli Edelstein, have also criticized the bill. While proponents in the Shas party argue the law anchors Torah study as a core national value, critics—including the Reservist Party—view it as a detachment from reality during a period of active conflict. For Eisenkot, the move represents a fundamental breach of the social contract that sustains the IDF as a people's army.