Israeli Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf is under fire after a video emerged showing the Haredi politician dancing to and singing an anti-Zionist song.
Goldknopf, from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, attended his nephew’s wedding where the controversial song was blasted out, which slams secular Israeli attempts to enlist Haredi Jews into the military.
The song warns Haredis “don’t believe in the government of infidels” and that “we will die and not enlist”, according to The Times of Israel.
Israeli MKs are now calling for the Haredi minister to be sacked after he was seen in the middle of a group of weddinggoers dancing to the anti-enlistment song which is written by members of the Neturei Karta Haredi sect.
Goldknopf issued a statement saying he regretted the move and that he stands with the State of Israel.
“Unfortunately, some people have taken advantage of this for incitement, as if I agree with the content of the song. So here it is: I disavow and condemn it,” he said.
Ultra-Orthodox parties, some of whom are in the Israeli government, are embroiled in a clash with secular Israeli parties over the enlistment of Haredi Jews into the Israeli military.
Last year, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jews should not be exempt from enlistment in the military, after decades of avoiding the draft due to the sensitivities around Haredis serving in the military, particularly religious students.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, a key figure in the Israeli establishment’s call to end the ultra-Orthodox Jewish immunity from military service, slammed Goldknopf and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not sacking the minister.
“A minister who jumps up [to dance] against the State of Israel should have been fired this evening… he is the prime minister of evasion and refusal,” he tweeted.
Even far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party slammed Goldknopf’s stunt and called on Netanyahu to take action.
“A shame and a disgrace. We can no longer remain silent in the face of Minister Goldknopf’s indifference, disdain and ungratefulness toward the State of Israel and the heroic IDF fighters,” he tweeted.
“I demand that the prime minister summon him for clarification this evening, set a red line for him, and put an end to his disgraceful conduct.”
Netanyahu is now under pressure to sack the minister, a move that could anger some ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis at a time the PM at a time the PM faces a string of domestic scandals.
“[He] did well to disavow the song that was played at the event he attended and even expressed regret about it,” he said.
“There is no place for songs against serving in the IDF. It is time to unite the forces within against the enemies without.”
