Aryeh Deri dismisses ultra-Orthodox draft evasion concerns, claims IDF ‘knows how to cope’

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, has declined to urge his community to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), despite ongoing national debate regarding draft evasion. Deri stated that the military is capable of managing the situation on its own, suggesting that the IDF knows how to cope with the current recruitment challenges. The Shas leader cited a lack of appropriate frameworks or 'real tracks' for Haredi soldiers as a primary reason for his stance. When questioned about the Hasmonean Brigade, a unit specifically intended to accommodate religious soldiers, Deri claimed he had not yet looked into the matter. The issue of Haredi military exemption remains a contentious point of friction within the Israeli political landscape.