On video: First press conference of the forum "Fighters for Equal Burden" 03.12.24/Documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law
The "Fighters for Burden Equality" forum today (Tuesday) convened the first press conference calling for equality in conscription: "The struggle is moving up a notch. The Chief of Staff, the Minister of Defense and two out of three Israelis already know: what was will not be.
In view of the security challenges at hand, in the shadow of the threat of a multi-arena war: 75 years of inequality are over."
The forum, which is led by Major General Noam Tivon, unites reservists' organizations and civil society, alongside the families of fighters and militiamen.
On Thursday evening they are expected to demonstrate in the Bima Square in Tel Aviv.
Alongside Tivon, Naa Kfarri, a former combat navigator in the "Haftish" squadron, from the security builders organization, Michal Gorfinkel, mother of three fighters, Prof. Dan Ben David, Lt. Col. Tzur Alon Machim L'Nashek, and Yehuda Lafian, an armor fighter in the reserves, also participated in the statement .
"We are calling our ultra-Orthodox brothers: come, enter with us under the security stretcher"/Uri Sela
The press conference was opened by General Tivon, who claimed that the October 7 failure revealed that the IDF's order of forces was small for Israel's security tasks - and supported the Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, who said that about ten thousand soldiers are missing. The IDF lacks three divisions - regular and two reserve. We need them now, this is our reality. This is a time of desire for deep change in Israeli society. The ultra-Orthodox society is no longer a minority. We call our ultra-Orthodox brothers: come, get under the security stretcher with us."
Tivon went on to say that "the Hesder yeshiva prove that it is possible to study Torah and serve in the IDF.
Serving the country is a privilege.
It's time to right a historical injustice and recruit the ultra-Orthodox public to the IDF. The ultra-Orthodox youth want to contribute to the state. We cannot allow the Israeli government to text the immediate security need to recruit ultra-Orthodox."
"We will not allow agreements related to the political survival of the government to harm the security of Israel, of all of us. I call on members of the Knesset from all factions to act for the security of the state. I call on the entire public, fathers and mothers of fighters, reservist men and women, to join us in a rally in support of fighters and female fighters that calls for the mobilization of the ultra-orthodox public, which says now is the time to take care of the national security of all of us".
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"Partnership in the burden is not a fine, but participation in the partnership of destiny"/Uri Sela
Fighter pilot Noa Kafri added: "In the squadron, an ultra-orthodox mechanic served next to me who was responsible for tying me to the plane and he did it without a problem. When there is a will, the technology exists. I call on all citizens of Israel to take part in the burden of protecting it. It does not make sense that while Israeli society is shedding blood, there are parts that have never been They got under the stretcher. The silver tray belongs to all of us. It is clear that this status quo is comfortable, but it is impossible to accept and receive without giving something. Water has reached the soul."
Prof. Ben David also commented during the press conference, saying that "as a result of huge disparities in birth rate between ultra-Orthodox society and the rest, the balance between those who are carried on a stretcher and those who are carried on it is becoming more and more open at an exponential rate. An increasing part of the national engine is not working. This engine cannot carry Win".
According to him, "Partnership in the burden is not a fine, but participation in a shared destiny. The token has fallen. We need a much larger army. Where will we get it from? There are 400,000 Haredim of military age, 18-39. In 2048, half of the toddlers will be Haredim. We need They and they need knowledge and skills that will enable them to work in the economy and serve. There is a point of no return after which it will not be possible to pass laws in the Knesset to change direction."
Mother of 3 fighters: "My blood is no different from the blood of an ultra-Orthodox mother"/Uri Sela
Yehuda Lafian, a soldier of the Shirision, said that he recently completed 120 days of reserve duty, and said: "I saw the sanctification of Hashem and the love of the Torah what it is. Soldiers who took out a Gemara book at any given moment. I was privileged to light the first candle of Hanukkah in the heart of Gaza and bless the right to defend our people to our land. Whoever blames Secularizing the army is wrong and misleading. I love the Torah, it is part of my identity, I studied for a year in a yeshiva before enlisting. But learning Torah is not an excuse not to take part in Israel's destiny."
Michal Gorfinkel, a mother of three fighters, shared her feelings: "I am constantly in fear. I knock on the door with anxiety, from a confidential number calling. The pain, the stress, the crying are endless. How many tears are there in my body? My parents are the founders of this country, this is the education we received, this is the education my husband and I We gave. Everyone contributes and mobilizes to defend the country."
According to her, "We are a traditional family, and in favor of preserving tradition and Judaism. As of today, two of my children are still in the reserves and the others are waiting for the next Order 8, to which they will report immediately. There is a war in the country, there is a law. Who will protect it? My blood is no different from the blood of an ultra-Orthodox mother." .
The combat navigator: "In the squadron I served next to an ultra-orthodox mechanic who was responsible for tying me to the plane"/Uri Sela
In response to questions and voila!
The representatives of the forum were asked about the next protest steps, whether they are considering stopping volunteering similar to what they did in the past, and why there are no ultra-Orthodox members in the forum.
General Tivon replied that the struggle will be conducted on several levels - "Also politically, to prevent legislation from collapsing. We will hold a first rally and tell the members of the Knesset that 70% of the people support this. Now is the time. We call on the ultra-Orthodox public to join us. There are no ultra-Orthodox here, but we come with an open heart. Now line In a time of war, when in the north it has not yet happened, we need soldiers. There is no such thing. What the last war proved is that we need high percentages of everyone's recruitment. Reservists who have served a third of a year and already have another order in hand and the business collapses, and soldiers who are killed have meaning and they all have to get under the stretcher ".
Also Lt. Col. Tzur Alon, from the Brothers in Arms, replied that "Brothers in Arms have all come forward so far.
There is no question of stopping volunteering here.
We are at war.
Going from funeral to funeral.
The question is irrelevant, there will be constant pressure.
No choice.
For those who are not clear - they have a reality checker problem."
More on the same topic:
Haredim recruitment
Equal burden
IDF
Gaza war
War of Iron Swords