Haredi Party Leader Moti Leitner Calls for Ultra-Orthodox IDF Service
HaTzibur HaHaredi Party leader Moti Leitner urged ultra-Orthodox society to embrace IDF service and national responsibility, warning that Haredi youth represent 34 percent of first-graders.
Moti Leitner, leader of the HaTzibur HaHaredi Party, called on Monday for Haredi society to take responsibility for national security and recognize the importance of military service in the IDF. Speaking at the "Choosing Education" conference focusing on structural changes ahead of the upcoming elections, Leitner argued that instead of debating whether the military needs ultra-Orthodox recruits, the community must realize it needs the IDF.
Taking National Responsibility
"We need to take responsibility, not just looking at the family unit, the community, or the city we live in, but at the country as a whole," Leitner stated. "In Haredi autonomy, this is a non-trivial message. I represent quite a few ultra-Orthodox individuals who understand that we are the state."
Leitner also highlighted demographic realities and their impact on the nation's future, noting that ultra-Orthodox children constitute 34 percent of first-grade students today.
"If we make up 34 percent of first-graders, in ten, twenty, or thirty years - we are the state," he emphasized.
Preventing Another October Seven
Addressing security concerns, Leitner stressed the necessity of protecting all Israeli citizens, including those residing in ultra-Orthodox cities. He argued that safeguarding borders and preventing another tragedy like October 7 requires a strong military presence and active participation.
The conference brought together various political representatives, educational organizations, and civil society groups to discuss pressing structural reforms in the education system. Partner organizations included Teach First Israel, Israel 2050, the Menor Center, and the Fourth Quarter Forum, among others.
