Edelstein Rejects Softer Conscription Law, Calls for Broad Zionist Government

Former Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein rejected the idea of a softer conscription law on November 9 and called for a broad Zionist government. In a Hebrew post, he questioned what Israel would gain from granting additional exemptions in exchange for political support. “What is a ‘soft conscription law’?” Edelstein asked. He said the IDF’s needs had not changed, reservists’ difficulties remained unanswered and the fighting fronts were still open. He presented a broad Zionist government as the solution to those problems, rejecting softer conscription legislation as the answer. A day earlier, on November 8, Avigdor Liberman said that willingness to compromise did not mean abandoning values and principles. He criticized commentators and others whom he accused of assigning malicious motives to him and inventing conspiracies. In a separate statement that evening, Liberman denied reports that intermediaries were acting on his behalf, naming Moshe Lion and Avi Abuhatzeira. He also denied that discussions about freezing the arrest law had taken place. Liberman said there had been no such discussions, either directly or indirectly.