The outcry from within Religious Zionism: "The draft law is a disgrace"

The reality for reserve families is unbearable. They continue to bear the burden of service against the backdrop of the ultra-Orthodox dodging military duty. Naama Yadid, of the 'Partnership for Service' forum, a resident of Leshem and wife of a reservist, shared with 103FM the personal difficulties at home and at work, and her feelings toward the leadership of Religious Zionism.

"The reserve situation has been very complex since October 7, 2023," Yadid noted. "He is called up for 80-100 days of reserve duty annually. He is a combat soldier, so most of the time it's stressful. It's sleepless nights, children's worries, my own worries; there is no routine, you are constantly trying to build one and another round arrives."

She described the impact on her children: "My 5-year-old son is very proud of him, saying he will be a paratrooper. But he also asks, 'Mom, what will we do if Dad dies in the army?'. On one hand, it's a lot of pride, and on the other, it's a lot of concerns."

"It makes no sense that a person is almost 40 years old, has four children, and is trying to develop a career while disappearing for three months every year," she added. Regarding the workplace, she noted: "I told him to remove the reserves from his resume because some places don't want you because of it. Fortunately, he found a place that appreciates his service. As a nurse working shifts, I know many friends who have to hire babysitters at night."

Regarding the value of service, she clarified: "This is what we believe in, this is what we teach our children. We have no other country. We would be happy if more people joined us in this effort. It is not sane in any way. There are so many who could do it."

Addressing the political stance, she said: "The 'Partnership for Service' forum voices this outcry to our ultra-Orthodox brothers to join us. Going out to a mandatory war is one of the most important commandments in the Torah. I don't understand how they stand by, and I cannot understand how the Religious Zionism party dares to stand by. It angers me on every level."

"As a settler in Samaria, I appreciate what they did for the settlements, but it does not compensate for what they are doing with the draft. It's a disgrace. How can you vote for a law that exempts tens or hundreds of thousands? I don't feel I have a political home. Personally, it hurts; I feel that they spat in our faces. I hope that after the elections they will understand that they made a mistake," Yadid added.