Rafi Reshef and Rabbi Motke Blau: A Heated Debate on Ultra-Orthodox Conscription

A stormy television confrontation took place today in the studio of Rafi Reshef, when the host engaged in a sharp exchange with Rabbi Motke Blau, one of the prominent leaders of the ultra-Orthodox protest against conscription.

Background: reports of statements made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in closed meetings, which indicate his intention to draft ultra-Orthodox individuals in the next government.

Right at the start of the interview, Reshef chose to mock and declared: "Rabbi Motke Blau is in deep mourning," referring to reports of what the Prime Minister said behind closed doors. Reshef asked Blau if he was aware of the details mentioned and asked him to elaborate.

Blau replied in a forgiving tone and quoted:

"Netanyahu said: everyone who studies Torah will be regulated properly, and whoever does not study will go and be drafted and will not go to prison."

Reshef, who apparently came with cynicism to "comfort" Blau, was surprised by the response and pressed: "You are simply accepting this?". In response, Blau said: "I am quoting Rabbi Landau - we have no trust in Netanyahu."

From this point on, the temperatures in the studio only rose. Reshef turned to Blau and told him directly: "You will run like little lambs." Blau did not remain silent and replied: "I will ask you like a good Jew - what will he do when he needs our mandates?". Reshef immediately replied: "Like a good Jew, he will answer you with a question, and you will run inside."

Rabbi Blau ended the charged interview with a sharp and uncompromising statement, continuing the line he has maintained for a long time: "Write it down - we will not enter any coalition that does not pass a law that will regulate the status of Torah students."