A political source told the Hebrew news outlet Yanunioz that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir did not discuss the issue of stopping arrests of yeshiva students in conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz. The source added that Zamir never mentioned the topic and called his letter on the matter 'very strange.'
A political source told the Hebrew news outlet Yanunioz on Tuesday that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir did not discuss the issue of halting arrests of yeshiva students in conversations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The source said Zamir never mentioned the topic and called his letter on the matter 'very strange.'
The report adds to the ongoing debate over the proposed legislation to grant immunity from arrest to yeshiva students who do not enlist. As The Zioneer has reported, Defense Minister Katz formally requested a Knesset debate on the bill, and Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs expressed support for a freeze on arrests, saying the enforcement push distances potential recruits. Earlier, the Knesset legal adviser expressed anger at the chief of staff for sending a letter to the media rather than sending a representative to committee discussions, accusing him of bypassing the committee.
The political source's denial contradicts claims that the chief of staff had voiced opposition to the arrest freeze in private meetings. The source's characterization of the letter as 'very strange' suggests internal friction over the handling of the issue. It remains unclear whether the chief of staff will respond to the report.
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