Leaked call exposes Netanyahu plot to protect Haredim

A leaked recording of a phone call between Israeli Occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch has revealed Netanyahu’s efforts to secure the rabbi’s support in order to save his fragile governing coalition.

The audio, aired by Hebrew Channel 13, captures Netanyahu explaining that he dismissed former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to facilitate the passage of a law that would exempt ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men from military service.

“When the defense minister and chief of staff are against you, you can’t move forward,” Netanyahu said in the call. “Now we can make progress.”

He expressed concern about rushing the bill that would integrate Haredim into the army, warning that “setting an early date would hurt the process, the opposition can delay things, and I’ll work to stop them.” He added, “We can't go too fast, or we’ll hand our opponents a gift on a silver platter. I believe we need eight more weeks.”

Netanyahu reportedly fears that the controversial legislation could collapse his coalition, especially after MK Moshe Gafni, head of the Degel HaTorah party, received instructions from Rabbi Hirsch to submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset.

In the call, Netanyahu also discussed the 'Israeli' army’s efforts to accommodate ultra-Orthodox recruits while maintaining their religious lifestyle. “The military is doing what we asked, establishing frameworks to receive the Haredim and integrate their way of life,” he said, crediting the possibility to the changes in defense leadership.

Netanyahu concluded by telling the rabbi that, with his support, they could “save the Torah world and resolve the issue once and for all.”

In response to the leak, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Gallant and Halevi opposed efforts to integrate the Haredim, while Hebrew media reported that the two had actually worked to establish specialized units for Haredi soldiers.