Shai Kelach
Shai Kelach is a former IDF fighter pilot, political commentator, and Likud party candidate known for his advocacy of right-wing security policies and his vocal opposition to military refusal (sirvanut).
Shai Kelach is a prominent voice in Israel's right-wing political landscape, bridging the worlds of military service and ideological advocacy. A former fighter pilot in the Israel Air Force, Kelach frequently leverages his military background to challenge what he describes as the 'deep state' and the politicization of the IDF. He has emerged as a staunch critic of military refusal (sirvanut), particularly during periods of civil unrest and judicial reform debates, arguing that such actions undermine national security and democratic governance.
Kelach is a candidate in the Likud party primaries, where he has positioned himself as a defender of the state's Jewish character and a counterweight to left-wing figures in the security establishment. His rhetoric often focuses on the tension between the elected political echelon and the professional security services, advocating for the clear subordination of the latter to the former. He has publicly defended security officials who align with this view while criticizing former military leaders, such as Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan, for their political stances.
Recently, Kelach has been vocal in his defense of the Haredi community's contribution to Israeli society, specifically regarding Torah study. In August 2024, he engaged in a high-profile dispute with opposition leader Yair Golan, accusing him of 'racist condescension' toward the Haredi public. Kelach asserted that the spiritual and intellectual depth of a single page of Gemara studied by Haredi Jews outweighs the secular learning of his political opponents, reflecting his broader effort to build bridges between the national-religious/secular right and the Haredi sector.