Yishai: Six Day War a success because soldiers “raised their eyes to G-d”

Interior Ministry Eli Yishai says the difference between the Second Lebanon War and the Six Day War was the faith of the soldiers

18/01/2012 11:25

Tags: Army Exemptions · Eli Yishai · Ha'aretz · Israeli Army

Netzach Yehuda Battalion soldier during prayer. 23.11.2006. Photo: Abir Sultan, Flash 90

Interior Ministry Eli Yishai said this week that the Israel Defence Forces succeeded in the Six Day War because “Every Jew, and every Jew that went to battle raised their eyes to the creator,” in a report to Channel 10 this week.

This is in contrast to the Second Lebanon War because soldiers did not pray or “raise their eyes to G-d."

Yishai, as a member of the cabinet, was amongst the influential political decision makers during the Second Lebanon War.

“This is a great lesson. When all Arab states are against the Jewish people, what will save the Jewish people is study of Torah.”

In the Six Day War, “There were at least one hundred soldiers against every Jewish soldier, if not thousands.” He continued, saying “This is a great lesson. When all Arab states are against the Jewish people, what will save the Jewish people is study of Torah.”

Yisha did not mention that 15% of every draft class receive postponement to their mandatory military service because they are studying in ultra-Orthodox yeshivas. The overwhelming majority never complete their service because they study in yeshiva indefinitely into their adulthood or they receive exemption on account of their children. Yishai’s party, Shas, supports these continued exemptions.

The Forum for Equal Sharing of Civil Burdens, as written in “The Marker” stressed that with these continued exemptions, “Within a few years [without implementation of mandatory service], there will be no one to defend the State of Israel.”

See the coverage in Ha'aretz