The Convenient Partners: Everyone Will Court the Haredim
Shilo Freid argues that despite an election campaign centered on Haredi conscription, Netanyahu's opponents will be willing to cooperate with the Haredi parties after the elections, as long as it replaces the current government. The Haredim are seen as a convenient and easy-to-please partner, demanding exemption from conscription and education budgets, but automatically supporting government steps on other issues.
In his article, Shilo Freid argues that despite an election campaign where Haredi conscription is at the heart of the discourse, Netanyahu's opponents will be willing to cooperate with the Haredi parties after the elections, as long as it replaces the current government. He notes that the leading candidate against Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, left the door open for a Haredi coalition, saying that if he does not achieve a Zionist majority, he will call on the Haredim to understand the gravity of the hour. Yair Golan also does not place anti-Haredi messages at the center of his campaign. Freid explains that the Haredim are seen as a convenient and easy-to-please political partner, demanding exemption from conscription, education budgets, dedicated phone lines and transportation, and appointment of rabbis, but automatically supporting government steps on political, legal, and economic issues. He concludes that forming a government in Israel requires giving up election promises, and that the Haredim will be hot commodities for coalition seekers.