MK Yitzchak Pindros of Degel HaTorah, currently visiting Jewish communities in New Jersey, sat down with Belaaz for a wide-ranging interview on Thursday to address the draft law crisis that has gripped Chareidi Jewry in Israel, the future of the Netanyahu coalition, and the Purim-time hope that Israel’s enemies be defeated.

Speaking at a Belaaz studio in Toms River, Pindros pulled no punches about the severity of the situation on the ground.

Pindros’ visit to New Jersey follows a week of turmoil in Bnei Brak, where confrontations between Chareidi protesters and security forces drew widespread attention. But for Pindros, the unrest is a predictable response to an unprecedented legal reality.

“Technically, every yeshiva bochur is basically illegal,” he said bluntly. “He could be arrested, which brings over a million and a half people in Eretz Yisrael under real threat.”

The MK traced the crisis to a sustained political and legal campaign against the Chareidi world. “It’s part of an agenda that’s been going on for years to make the Charedi community illegitimate in Israel; to not let them live as they do in Israel.”

He acknowledged that two years of war had complicated the picture, but said Israel’s secular establishment had exploited that window. “They’re taking advantage of that situation. Everybody agrees you can’t take yeshiva bochurim and put them into the army; but why not use that time to attack the Charedi community?”

Pindros expressed empathy for the protesters in Bnei Brak while stopping short of endorsing the violence that erupted. “I think it’s a terrible chillul Hashem,” he said. “I can understand where they’re coming from, but that doesn’t mean that when you feel uncomfortable and feel pressure to act, you can act in a way that isn’t befitting a Torah person.” He was direct about where he sees the real adversary: “The soldiers are not your enemies. The police are not your enemies. The Supreme Court — yes, they are your enemies. But even regarding the Supreme Court, I wouldn’t tell people to go beat them up, because that’s not the right direction.”

The Supreme Court Problem, And Why Laws Keep Failing

A central frustration for Pindros is that the problem is not lack of legislation; it is a Supreme Court that keeps striking it down. “The main problem is not that a law hasn’t been passed,” he explained. “A law was passed at least three times; in the 1990s, in 2002, and around 2016–17. But each time, the Supreme Court struck it down.”

He leveled sharp criticism at the Court’s claim to unlimited authority. “It’s the only country in the world where the Supreme Court simply says, ‘I can overrule anything I want,’ and no one can say anything back.” He predicted an eventual institutional collision: “That’s going to lead to a serious clash one day; a real battle between the Supreme Court and the government over who controls the country.”
Pindros said his faction has responded to this deadlock with a legislative slowdown. “What we’ve been doing for the last year is: we haven’t let any bill pass in the Knesset; nothing unrelated to the war or urgent matters. No bill has passed in almost a year.” He connected his physical presence in New York to this very posture: “It would actually be harder for me to be in New York right now if the Knesset were in full session passing laws.”

He disclosed that a breakthrough may be imminent. “We’re hoping that in the next couple of days, we’ll have a draft document; a piece of paper laying out what the bill will look like. With that, we’ll go to the Gedolei Yisrael and hear from them whether we should vote for it or not.” He acknowledged the difficulty: “It’s a very, very narrow path: on one hand, a bill that can pass and bring a solution; on the other hand, a bill that can also survive the Supreme Court.”

Coalition Ultimatum: ‘There’s a Chance; For Now’

Asked directly whether Degel HaTorah and United Torah Judaism would topple the Netanyahu government if no bill materializes, Pindros was measured but unambiguous. “The only reason we’re still in the government, and haven’t brought it down, is because there’s still a chance. As long as there’s a chance, we’re part of the coalition.”

The corollary was equally clear. “We’re there only for a chance to get a bill. If there’s no chance; we’re not there.” He added: “You can’t be part of the government when it’s very obvious and clear that they’re not even trying to pass a bill.”

He was careful to leave room for Netanyahu personally. “It’s not that the Prime Minister politically wants to draft all the yeshiva bochurim; but yes, we have to pressure more.” Still, the bottom line was firm: regardless of fault, UTJ cannot remain in a government that fails to deliver.

On Bennett: ‘He Believes in One Thing — Being Prime Minister’

Pindros was dismissive – and colorful – when asked whether UTJ would join a government led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who has been positioning himself for a political comeback. “Bennett has been working for 20 years to be Prime Minister. He has no idea what he actually believes in. Not one word that he says does he actually believe, except one thing: being Prime Minister. That’s the only thing he truly believes in.”

He said he doubted Bennett would reach the premiership, and was firm that UTJ would not be the vehicle that puts him there. “I don’t believe he’s going to be Prime Minister; and certainly not by our hand.”

On the question of future coalitions more broadly, Pindros articulated a single threshold: “Only a government that is going to allow yeshiva bochurim to sit in the yeshiva and study; only a government like that can get our vote or our backing. No other government can.” He invoked the community’s lived reality as the clinching argument: “I don’t think you’ll find anywhere in the world someone who is being attacked, spat at, harassed – like our community is today in Israel – who would be part of that government.”

A Call to American Jews: Use Your Influence
Pindros had a direct message for American Jewish communities; particularly on the question of financial and political leverage. On funding, he called for sustained support: “The people who are funding kollel avreichim and helping – people who are coming and helping and pushing – that has to continue. There’s a lot that people over here can do, and we need that.”

He also urged American Jews to use their social and political networks. “Any connection you have with Israelis, or with people who make decisions in Israel or have any influence there;  use it. Tell them: ‘You can’t be partners with us here in America if you’re going to make that community illegitimate.’ That’s a message that has to get through.”

Asked whether the Trump administration could be leveraged to pressure Israel on the issue, he was tempered. “This is ultimately a political-legal issue. The political world doesn’t want it to go through – and neither does the Supreme Court. We see President Trump trying to influence the courts in Israel on a different issue entirely – and so far he hasn’t succeeded.” The implication: even American presidential pressure has its limits in the current Israeli judicial climate.

Iran, and a Purim Tefilah

The interview concluded on an  evocative note. Asked whether a potential Iranian military escalation could push off a Knesset vote on the draft law, Pindros declined to speculate on timing, but seized on the Purim season for a broader message.

“For sure, we’re in Purim; we’re all waiting for the Haman of our generation to be hanged on a high tree,” he said, in an unmistakable allusion to Iran’s leadership. “And just as in the time of Achashveirosh, all the haters of the Jewish nation should be wiped out. Now is the time. Amen; kein yehi ratzon.”