Leaked recording reveals Netanyahu's commitment to exempting ultra-Orthodox from military conscription.

The Israeli channel "13" revealed a leaked recording of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging to the prominent Haredi rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch to work on passing a law exempting Haredi Jews from military service.

These leaks come amidst a political crisis escalating with religious parties threatening to dissolve the Knesset and topple the government in protest of the law not being passed.

Details of the leaked recording

The channel clarified that the recording dates back to last March, during a meeting between Netanyahu and Rabbi Hirsch, before the state budget vote, where the Haredim threatened to vote against it.

Netanyahu said in the recording: "We need time to pass the law (exemption from enlistment) correctly... so that it cannot be challenged. We are capable of that, and I will do it."

Netanyahu also openly admitted to firing the former Defense Minister Ya'alon and Chief of Staff Halivi due to their opposition to the law, stating that it was necessary to overcome obstacles: "We had huge obstacles, and we removed them. You know, when the Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff are against you, you can't move forward. Now we can move forward."

Escalation of the political crisis

These leaks come at a time when Israel is witnessing a new escalation in the crisis of Haredi enlistment, especially after the Supreme Court's decision on June 25, 2024, obligating them to military service and prohibiting funding for religious institutions that reject enlistment.

According to reports, prominent rabbis have directed Haredi parties to withdraw from the government or support the dissolution of the Knesset, threatening the stability of the ruling coalition.

Position of the Haredi parties

Israeli media outlets, including "Yedioth Ahronoth" and "Haaretz," reported that the "Shas" party joined "United Torah Judaism" to push for the dissolution of the Knesset, reflecting the Haredi community's dissatisfaction (13% of the population) with the government's slow progress in passing the law.

For decades, Haredim have been able to defer enlistment under the guise of religious study until the exemption age (26 years), a practice opposed by the opposition, accusing Netanyahu of using the issue to secure the support of religious parties.

Implications of the crisis

The official Israeli broadcasting authority described the conflict over the enlistment law as a "real test" for the survival of Netanyahu's government, especially with the ongoing war in Gaza since October 2023 and worsening internal crises.

Estimates suggest that the decisions of the rabbis may determine the fate of the Israeli political scene in the near future.