PM Netanyahu: I will form coalition with Charedim. PHOTO: Tomer Applebaum.

Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu told Charedi journalists on Tuesday that after the upcoming elections he plans to set up a coalition with Charedi parties and cancel criminal sanctions against Charedim who avoid military or national service, Israel’s NRG reported, citing Charedi news site Bechadrei Charedim.

The sanctions were established at the insistence of rival party Yesh Atid as part of the equal burden law.

According to the report, during the discussion Netanyahu was asked about the criminal sanctions that are part of the military recruitment law, and he responded that they would be canceled.

Netanyahu added that, “the Charedim are [Likud’s] natural partners. I have great respect for tradition. Here every Shabbat we learned the weekly Torah portion.”

Yesh Atid responded to the report, saying, “Netanyahu has once again proven that the only thing that interests him is political survival, this time at the expense of the IDF’s soldiers, and at the chance to repair the historical injustice that was done. There is a future in which all the sons and daughters of the citizens of Israel will serve in the army and be equal. Yesh Atid is fighting for the country and will continue to fight for equality in the national burden.”