Israeli Opposition Leader Criticizes Losses in Gaza War, Urges Government Resignation
Watan-In a confession described as serious, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid waved off the scale of losses suffered by the occupying army during battles with Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.
This came in the context of Lapid’s demand for Netanyahu’s immediate departure from his government in order to preserve Israel’s security, saying, “The occupying army no longer has enough soldiers,” hinting at the scale of the losses it suffered.
It is noted that the occupying army deliberately hides the extent of the losses it incurs during fierce ground battles with Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.
Lapid’s statements came in response to what was published by Israel’s Channel 12, that the government requested the Supreme Court to postpone the ruling on appeals related to the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews until May 20th.
Lapid wondered, saying, “How long will this corrupt government continue to tarnish the reputation of the State of Israel with excuses? The Israeli army no longer has enough soldiers, and everyone must enlist, so do not spread slogans saying together we will prevail if we do not enlist together.”
He continued, “For the security of Israel, Netanyahu must resign, and this government must leave our lives.”
Threats of withdrawal from the government
This comes as religious parties in the ruling coalition threaten to withdraw from the government if a new conscription law is adopted that does not grant exemptions to the ultra-Orthodox from military service.
The ultra-Orthodox make up about 13% of Israel’s population, and they do not serve in the army, claiming to devote their lives to studying the Torah in theological institutes.
עד מתי הממשלה המופקרת הזו תמשיך למרוח בתירוצים את מדינת ישראל? לצה”ל אין מספיק חיילים, וכולם צריכים להתגייס. שלא יפזרו סיסמאות של יחד ננצח אם לא ביחד נתגייס.
למען בטחון ישראל נתניהו צריך להתפטר והממשלה הזו צריכה לצאת מחיינו. https://t.co/7IuALpBDzd
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) April 25, 2024
Israeli Military Service Law
The law requires every Israeli male and female over 18 to serve in the military, while exempting the ultra-Orthodox from service has been a subject of debate for decades.
The continuous Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 7th has heightened this debate, as secular parties (both in government and opposition) demand that the ultra-Orthodox share the burden of the war.
Successive governments since 2017 have failed to reach a consensus law regarding the enlistment of the ultra-Orthodox, after the Supreme Court overturned a law enacted in 2015 that exempted them from military service, considering that the exemption violates the principle of “equality.”
Since then, the Knesset (parliament) has been extending their exemption from service.
