War cabinet observer Gadi Eisenkot sharply criticized the coalition Wednesday night after the Knesset passed a conscription bill in a first reading, accusing it of prioritizing political survival over the army's strength. The remark was reported by N12.
War cabinet observer Gadi Eisenkot attacked the coalition Wednesday night after the Knesset approved a controversial conscription bill in a first reading, saying the government is sacrificing the IDF's strength to stay in power.
"You prefer the survival of the government over the resilience of the IDF," Eisenkot said, according to N12's Dafna Liel. The law, which would expand exemptions from mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, has drawn intense criticism from opposition figures and former security chiefs.
As The Zioneer has reported, opposition leader Naftali Bennett vowed Wednesday night to repeal the legislation upon forming a new government, calling it the "Basic Law: Disgrace of Torah." Eisenkot's remarks follow a pattern of public confrontations between former IDF leadership and the coalition over military service policy. He previously accused the Knesset of focusing on a "draft-dodging law" instead of strengthening the military during war, as The Zioneer reported in late June. The bill now proceeds to committee before a second and third reading.
2 developments
- DevelopingEisenkot: Instead of strengthening the IDF, Knesset focuses on draft-dodging law
- DevelopingReservists' families group slams coalition after conscription bill passes first reading
- DevelopingFormer IDF chief Eisenkot: government deal to stay in power is 'irresponsible, harmful to IDF'
- DevelopingBennett vows to repeal conscription exemption law, says coalition chose politics over security
Source and signal
- Internal intake