Prime Minister Netanyahu is out of Surgery and Called UTJ about Exemption Law for Yeshiva Students
In a recent development that called for tefillos from Klal Yisroel, Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu underwent a medical procedure at Hadassah Medical Center in Yerushalayim on Sunday evening. Boruch Hashem, the surgery was completed successfully without complications. The Prime Minister’s Office reported that the Prime Minister is in stable condition and fully conscious following the procedure.
Due to the current security situation, additional precautions were implemented, and the Prime Minister was transferred to a specially fortified, underground recovery ward to ensure his safety with potential missile attacks coming from Gaza or Yemen. The medical team at Hadassah has indicated that the Prime Minister is expected to make a full recovery, b’ezras Hashem, though he will remain under medical observation for several days.
As we continue to face numerous challenges confronting our nation, it is crucial that we maintain our tefillos for the complete and speedy recovery of Binyamin ben Tzila, who carries the tremendous responsibility of leading Eretz Yisroel during these trying times.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, from his hospital room, reportedly called United Torah Judaism (UTJ) Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf and told him that the Knesset would advance a conscription exemption law for Yeshiva students. Goldknopf made it clear that UTJ would not back down from its position and threatened to vote against a critical budget-related bill unless a draft of the law that satisfies the Yeshiva world is presented.
An Agudat Yisrael official clarified that the faction is not looking to bring down the government but rather wants Netanyahu to fulfill his commitment regarding military exemptions for yeshiva students. The Hamodia reported this morning that Agudat Yisroel leaders believe it is pointless to support the budget bill unless the question of IDF exemptions for yeshiva students is resolved first, and they will therefore vote against it.
Currently, the proposed legislation to address the enlistment of yeshiva students is stalled in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The committee’s chairman, Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, has emphasized that the needs of the IDF must come first, and that the legislation will only move forward if a broad consensus is reached among lawmakers.
Regardless of this political development, it is essential for the Jewish community to keep the Prime Minister in mind in our tefillos—for his complete recovery, as well as for the successful advancement of policies that will safeguard the future of Klal Yisroel. May Hashem grant wisdom and strength to our leaders, and may we soon see the fulfillment of their promises, b’ezras Hashem.