The Democratic Party chairman, Yair Golan, a retired Israel Defence Forces major general and former deputy chief of staff, lashed out at the government over the drafting of Haredim — members of the ultra-observant Jewish community — drawing a sharp rebuke from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Period,” Golan wrote in a social media post, accusing the “prime minister of draft-dodgers” and the Prime Minister’s Office — which he said is under investigation over contacts with Qatar — of hiding behind promotional videos “while their government collapses.” Golan said the government “failed against Iran, failed in Gaza, failed in Lebanon,” and passed exemption laws that shifted the burden of service onto soldiers and reservists. Anyone who doesn’t enlist will complete full national service — no arrangements, no exemptions and no draft-evasion laws,” Golan said. Ben Gvir went on to threaten Golan’s political future, saying that as soon as party lists are submitted, his Otzma Yehudit party will petition Israel’s Central Elections Committee to disqualify Golan from running for Knesset over what he called Golan’s “repulsive racism.”