Journalist and former Knesset member Rabbi Yisrael Eichler thinks that the crisis regarding the Hesder yeshivas is a gift from G-d, Who is revealing the hellenizing element in the nation on Chanukah, the holiday which marks the victory of the true believers over the hellenizers.

"The media is waging a long-term battle against the religious soldiers in the army because it fears that they may take command and establish a Jewish state here,” Eichler said.

"The slogan – 'the Rabbi's command or the commander's command' – essentially says that Man is sovereign, not the Sovereign of the World [Ribono shel olam in Hebrew – one of the names for G-d].

Warning from Ketzaleh
The Chairman of the National Union, MK Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh), enumerated Monday in the Knesset plenum the decrees promulgated against the Nation of Israel throughout history. He also mentioned the latest edicts by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, including the freeze on construction in Judea and Samaria and the decision to cut off the Har Bracha Hesder yeshiva.

"The Nation of Israel will not let you forget your deeds,” He warned Netanyahu. “The Prime Minister will be remembered not as one who followed the footsteps of [early Zionist leader Ze'ev] Jabotinsky and [former prime minister Yitzchak] Shamir, but as one who is a link in the chain of leaders who pass edicts against Israel,” Ketzaleh said.  

MK Uri Orbach (Jewish Home) also attacked the Defense Minister following his decision to discontinue the military's arrangement with the Har Bracha yeshiva, using the opportunity for a swipe at Barak over his alleged employment of an illegal domestic worker from the Phillipines.

"Barak thinks the heads of the Hesder yeshivas are his Filipino workers,” he said. “He needs to be told that the yeshiva heads are not his illegal Filipinos but citizens with equal rights.”

"Did Barak make his decision because Rabbi Melamed did not show up with polished military shoes and a beret?” he asked.