Liberman: Netanyahu dragging Israel towards civil war to stay in power
Opposition leader Avigdor Liberman has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging Israel toward “civil war” to cling to power, after thousands of ultra‑Orthodox Jews protested the detention of Haredi draft evaders. Liberman called the protests a “national disgrace.”
Israeli opposition leader Avigdor Liberman warned Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is dragging the country toward “civil war” in an effort to remain in power. “The government (of Benjamin Netanyahu) is dragging the State of Israel into a civil war – just to cling to power for a few more days,” Liberman wrote on X.
Haredi protests
His remarks came a day after thousands of ultra‑Orthodox Jews took part in vehicle convoys from 19 cities to Military Prison No. 10 in Kfar Yona to protest the detention of Haredi draft evaders. Liberman posted a photo of a police officer surrounded by a large crowd of Haredi protesters, calling it “a national disgrace.” Haredim make up about 13% of Israel’s population and have long sought exemption from compulsory military service, arguing they devote themselves to Torah study.
Conscription crisis
In June 2024, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled Haredi men are subject to mandatory service and ordered the suspension of state funding for religious institutions whose students refuse conscription. Netanyahu reached an agreement with Haredi party leaders to delay a vote on dissolving the Knesset in exchange for advancing legislation exempting Haredim and preventing arrests of draft evaders. The opposition says Netanyahu is seeking to avoid early elections before the current Knesset term expires in October.
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