Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to publicly distance himself from the chareidi parties as Israel moves closer to new elections, while carefully avoiding actions that could fracture the right-wing bloc, according to a report Monday by Kan News.

Senior Likud officials told the broadcaster that Netanyahu plans to increase the public separation from the chareidi factions as the election campaign intensifies.

“As we get closer to the elections and begin campaigning, Netanyahu plans to deepen the separation from the chareidim and try to publicly distance himself from them,” one senior Likud official was quoted as saying.

Another senior official said the prime minister “will have to walk a fine line so as not to directly attack the chareidim and damage the bloc.”

The report comes amid a political storm sparked by comments attributed earlier Monday to HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau regarding the military draft issue and the broader relationship with religious Zionists.

Without mentioning Rav Landau by name, Netanyahu issued a statement expressing full support for IDF soldiers, saying they “deserve deep appreciation, gratitude, and full backing from every part of the public, including the Torah world.” He added that religious, secular, and chareidi soldiers all risk their lives to protect the State of Israel.

Netanyahu adviser Yonatan Urich also weighed in, writing: “Better late than never: Do not speak disparagingly about IDF soldiers. I repeat and emphasize: Do not speak disparagingly about IDF soldiers. Not maybe, not indirectly, not because of something else, not at all.”

After associates of Rav Landau clarified that the Rosh Yeshiva’s remarks referred to a theoretical halachic discussion about wars fought for national honor rather than survival, and not to religious Zionist soldiers themselves, Urich sharply rejected the explanation.

“That is the most twisted clarification I have ever seen,” Urich wrote. “Here’s a suggestion: The activists should keep quiet for 99 days so we can win the elections.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)