Heritage Minister Eliyahu Sparks Outrage With Remarks on Reservists and Protesters
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu sparked controversy at a Tel Aviv high school election panel by stating he would not want anti-government protesters drafted into combat roles, questioning their willingness to fight.
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu participated in a high school election panel at Ironi A in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, where he made controversial remarks regarding IDF reservists and anti-government protesters during a discussion on ultra-Orthodox conscription. "I do not want to draft someone from Kaplan into combat units—only for him to refuse to charge in the end," Eliyahu stated.
The debate centered around military recruitment of Haredi citizens, with opposition representatives emphasizing the critical necessity of universal service across all segments of the population. Meanwhile, Likud candidate Shlomo Lerner argued that his party remains the only political faction that has successfully integrated ultra-Orthodox recruits, presenting specific enlistment data.
According to an attendee, Eliyahu's comments followed Lerner's presentation of statistics showing that the relative rate of combat enlistment among graduates of the Tel Aviv high school is comparatively low. The panel was held as part of an ongoing series of political events in high schools nationwide aimed at engaging young voters ahead of the upcoming elections.
