Speaking on a Channel 10 TV morning news program on Wednesday, 20 Sivan 5773, MK (Likud) Moshe Feiglin addressed a number of issues, including the sharing the burden matter, the effort to compel bnei yeshivos to serve in the IDF.
Feiglin feels “the entire share the burden issue is nothing more than a farce, for if all of the chareidim reported to Bakum [induction base] the IDF chief of staff would jump out of a window.”
Feiglin explains the IDF does not want the chareidim, and even more important, it does not need them. Feiglin feels that “we do not need more laws to compel us to do things, but we require more freedom. We require a smaller army, a more professional army and a smarter army.” He says hard facts back his statements and in today’s military there are too many wasting their time, and too many who are not essential to the service, costing the nation a great deal of money.
The MK goes on to explain “the real budgetary hole that we face is from the IDF”, citing statistics that 10 billion NIS is lost annually just as a result of people in uniform unable to generate income in the workforce. He feels the IDF is too inflated and lacks efficiency.
According to the Feiglin plan, “everyone would be inducted into the IDF including Jews, Arabs, men and women, without exception.” Everyone would be compelled to complete the two month minimum basic training that results in being certified as at level 2, the lowest rating. At that point, those interested in continuing would apply for a position. Others would get on with their lives and military service would be behind them.
For the applicants, those accepted into the professional standing army, they would receive professional training “not like is seen today in most units”, an academic education and a commensurate salary. Feiglin explains that today, there are five applicants for every available spot in the Golani Brigade for example. “Can you imagine how many applicants would stand on line to get into Golani with the new conditions described?”
Feiglin stressed the sharing the burden is a scam and it is time the military came forward and released true facts. He cited that less than one-third of draft eligible Israelis complete a legitimate three-year IDF service and less than 4% of the nation reports for reserve duty when called upon.
Therefore he feels it is time to stop seeking to depict the chareidim in such a negative light when in essence, it is time to come to the realization that the current people’s army formula is no longer the nation’s best option.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
feiglin has a point that the gedolim should listen to
call their bluff
Feiglin is a noble figure,who wishes the country to follow Torah (and takes his ahavas yisroel seriously ).
We can strenously disagree on certain aspects such as visting the Har Habayis,international elbowing,etc.,and if necessary, agree to disagree.
Therefore, chareidim should sit down with him,and other like him e.g. Danny Danon,and blueprint a cohesive State.
(Yesterday,
‘MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Yisrael Eichler feels the solution is not to draft chareidim but to change over from today’s people’s army to a professional military…
“A people’s army is a term used to create a melting pot of secular ‘Kultur’. We must gradually become a professional army with a mission of security and nothing else, as is the case with the paid career IDF and the senior brass. Releasing the extraneous soldiers will free a great deal of funding to provide a fair wage for soldiers.”’)
If Likud wasn’t so mad at him for his “stunts” on the Har ha-Bayis (yes, his right to so, regardless of the halacha, but not something a leader of a country should do since increased hostility is not in Israel’s interests at this time) it would listen to him. Likud wants a way to say they support “sharing the burden” that doesn’t alienate their former hareidi allies.
Naturally,all the posters that have been demonizing and maligning chareidim for months and years without letup,for letting ” the others” serve, will openly repent….
great writing
A man with a head on his shoulders,,,a missing device of others.
the gedolim already know ut
& their shluchim have said it for them
… mikalkeles es hashurah!
In all fairness, compared to the New York mayoral race, how does this qualify as a “farce”. Even Italy is sillier. Israel is clearly not a world-class competitor when it comes to political farce.