JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan was recorded describing the Haredi community as “parasites” who “live off the rest of Israeli society,” according to audio aired by Israel’s Channel 14, comments that are likely to intensify political tensions over military conscription and religion-state issues.

The recording was broadcast hours after Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, unveiled his party’s election platform, which calls for mandatory military service for all Israelis, a unified state education system with compulsory core curriculum studies, expanded public transportation on the Jewish Sabbath and civil marriage.

Speaking at the campaign launch, Golan said only “strong Democrats” would pass “a real draft law” requiring military service for everyone “without loopholes or compromises.”

In the recording, reportedly made during a meeting with party activists in Kiryat Ono earlier the same day, Golan said the Haredi community now makes up 13.5% of Israel’s population and “is growing rapidly, living as a parasite on the rest of Israeli society. This cannot work.”

He continued by saying, “You are too heavy. We cannot carry you on our backs. We cannot work for you and pay taxes for you.”

Golan also drew a comparison between his proposed policy toward the Haredi community and his approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying, “Regarding the Haredim, as I said regarding the Palestinians — separation or annexation; regarding the Haredim — separation or integration.”

The remarks are expected to draw criticism from Haredi political leaders and come amid an ongoing national debate over exemptions from mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and broader disputes over the role of religion in Israeli public life.