Israel Katz is an Israeli lawmaker and member of the Likud Party. He currently serves as the country's defense minister, having previously served as this government's foreign minister and energy minister.
Katz has served many other ministerial roles in the past, specifically as transportation minister, agriculture minister, intelligence minister, and finance minister.
He is considered a hardliner in Israeli politics regarding peace and security, supporting settlements and West Bank annexation, but has also advocated for the establishment of an autonomous Palestinian entity.
Alas, these fine initiatives only nibble at the edges of the military, societal, and ideological need, which is a significant draft to the fighting army of 18 to 26-year-old haredi men.
Coalition tensions over the hostage deal, budget deadline, and haredi draft converge to create the perfect political storm for the Israeli government.
The ultra-Orthodox IDF draft has come to a head as the Israel-Hamas war has seen reservists completing hundreds of days of duty. IDF says it needs more manpower to deal with the new security reality.
Dark Horse candidate Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai makes the list, subverting expectations.
Katz said that the bill includes financial sanctions against any yeshiva that does not meet its quota and against men who are issued draft orders but do not show up.
Bluth said that from an initial probe, dozens of extremist Jewish-Israelis with facemasks attacked Funduk by perpetrating arson against Palestinian property in the village.
The problem runs deeper. Judging by his first two months as defense minister, Katz’s other task is to shift blame for the October 7 fiasco from the politicians to the generals.
The government has to encourage a fast and vast shift within haredi society, showing that military service and keeping the faith are not contradictions.
The committee was interrupted for 30 minutes while Katz and Likud MK Yuli Edelstein sat in silence.
Katz said that over seven years, his bill would succeed at integrating tens of thousands of haredim into the military. Opposition MKs accused him of ignoring the IDF's needs.
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