Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer of the Religious Zionism party was recorded criticizing the proposed draft law in a closed-door gathering, warning that advancing the legislation despite opposition from reservists could severely damage the political right.

The recordings were aired Sunday morning on Kan News’ program “Haboker Hazeh” on Reshet Bet. In the audio, Sofer is heard cautioning that pushing forward with the draft law against the will of reserve soldiers would carry heavy political consequences.

“If the law is advanced, against the will and despite the anger of the reservists, the right will be crushed,” Sofer said in the recording. “It will pay an electoral price for it. Certainly in the overall count, and even if you look at more specific frameworks.”

Sofer also addressed the charedi leadership, criticizing the absence of a clear public call from leading rabbis stating that those who are not engaged in full-time Torah study should enlist.

“Why can’t we expect a letter from 25 important rabbis, maybe five, maybe ten leading rabbis, saying that we call on everyone who is learning Torah to continue learning, that no one should get up from the shtender, but whoever is not learning Torah — should enlist? You can’t hear such a thing,” the minister said.

Responding to the recordings, Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, said he sees no contradiction between Torah study and military service.

“For me there is no compromise — there is no contradiction between Torah study and military service. All the great leaders of Israel served in the army. There is no contradiction between Torah study and service in the army — Religious Zionism has proven that there is no contradiction. There will not be chief rabbis calling to throw draft orders into the toilet, only rabbis who served,” Lieberman said.

{Matzav.com}