The Knesset Ministerial Committee on Sunday, 8 Tammuz 5773, discussed a bill that would grant preferential treatment in certain areas for IDF veterans. The ministers will discuss the bill along with fears it may be viewed as discriminatory since it singles out a particular sector. The bill is sponsored by Likud MK Yariv Levin.
An Arab human rights organization in Israel has already signaled opposition, challenging the definition of “giving to the state”. The organization explains this is yet another effort to turn Arab citizens of Israel into second class citizens and the bill sitting before the committee is an affront to the Basic Law which guarantees basic dignities and rights to all citizens.
Organization officials add the bill takes the hidden and “back room” discrimination and brings it to the forefront.
The bill seeks to give a job applicant who is an IDF veteran preference over an applicant of equal qualifications who did not serve in the military.
One could argue the bill discriminates against anyone not serving in the military, including many chareidim.
The ministerial committee passed the bill. Yesh Atid ministers did not support the bill however, which they insist discriminates against disabled citizens unable to serve in the IDF. Zahava Gal-On, who heads the Meretz opposition party criticized the ministers “for entrenching discrimination and racism in the law.”
She added “The current Netanyahu administration continues the same trend as in the previous Knesset, promoting racist laws that exclude minorities and disadvantaged populations.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
I think its a great bill. It will eventually work in our favor. A charedi official will be able to give greater benefits to talmidei chachamim on the basis that they – according to most Israelis, both frum and mesorati – benefit the country. I suggest that the promoters of the bill are not thinking hard into future projections.