The so-called “million-person rally” is scheduled to take place Thursday in Jerusalem, bringing together leading rabbis and followers from the country’s major ultra-Orthodox factions. The gathering is intended as a show of unity against efforts to conscript ultra-Orthodox men into the IDF, a long-running source of tension in Israeli politics.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said Monday on Kol Hai Radio that he may attend the rally. “When the fight is to stop the persecution of Torah learners, I think it’s certainly an idea to attend and take part,” he said. “Even if I can’t be there physically, my heart is certainly with all our brothers in the House of Israel who want to stop the persecution led by the attorney general.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized Likud members who said they might attend. “Likud voters enlist, fight, die, and are wounded defending the homeland, while their elected representatives encourage corruption and draft-dodging,” Lapid told ynet. “Likud has stopped being a national party — it’s become a branch of the ultra-Orthodox and Ben-Gvir. In the government we’ll form, everyone will enlist, everyone will study core subjects, and everyone will work. There are no rights without obligations.”