Storm in Netanyahu's circle over Hader Mochtar: 'There was an argument'

Commentator Mati Tuchfeld assesses that Hader Mochtar will not be able to run in the Likud primaries, and warns of a legal ruling that could further crowd the list. According to him, there was an argument in the Prime Minister's circle regarding her candidacy, but it was decided not to allow shortening the mandatory service. He added that the dates in the Likud constitution are not final. In addition, he referred to pressures on the Haredi parties, including a message from Netanyahu that Haredim who do not study Torah will go to prison, and the possibility that the new Haredim will establish a separate party.

Political commentator Mati Tuchfeld assesses that Hader Mochtar will not be able to run in the Likud primaries, and warns of a legal ruling that could further crowd the national list. According to him, there was an argument in the Prime Minister's circle regarding her candidacy, but ultimately it was decided not to allow shortening the mandatory service. He noted: "There was an argument near the Prime Minister about her, and we saw that the decision is not to." Tuchfeld added that even the dates set in the Likud constitution are not necessarily final, and that "the last date that was yesterday was already the third last date." He explained that in such a case, the pressure on the places on the national list will increase significantly, especially in light of the slots Netanyahu is expected to receive, and that "the national list, with all of Netanyahu's slots, is very, very crowded." Later, Tuchfeld referred to the Haredi parties, which face two challenges: the anti-Haredi campaign and public pressure from outside, and internal tension within Haredi society. He said that Netanyahu recently conveyed a harsher message, in closed conversations, that Haredim who do not study Torah will go to prison. He also noted that a group of "new Haredim" seeks to integrate into United Torah Judaism, but since in his assessment this is not expected to happen, they are considering establishing a separate political framework.