In an interview with Kikar Shabbos, Housing Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel explained that he decided to abstain in the cabinet vote for the Share the Burden Law because he has issues with the bill. He objects to the fact that if a bnei yeshiva does not comply with the new law, he is in violation of the penal law and faces criminal sanctions. He is hopeful that he will be able to amend the law before it is passed in the Knesset so even if there are criminal sanctions, those sanctions will be more in the line of administrative and not more severe.
KIKAR:
There is much criticism against your party for entering into a coalition with Yesh Atid.
Ariel:
Without saying the words “Gush Katif” the minister reminds listeners that the chareidim “were in a place that I do not care to recall or be reminded of, but I stress I am not guided by revenge in any way”.
He explained that the current government is not chareidi friendly, but he blames the chareidim for this because chareidi lawmakers refused to enter into an agreement to form a bloc. He feels that without Bayit Yehudi in the coalition the situation would have been a far cry from today for the worse, using the Share the Burden Law as an example. He stressed without his party all men and women would be drafted at the age of 18 and the number of bnei yeshivos who would be permitted to receive a draft deferment would be drastically lower. He admits at present the bill is not what it should be and he hopes to work with party officials towards improving it.
Regarding the dati leumi tzibur, 90% serves three years or more since many become officers and this compels additional service. Regarding the women he adds most opt for sheirut leumi. Most of the hesder talmidim serve for 24 months and many opt to leave hesder and then continue with prolonged service too, some becoming officers while others join specialized units. He suggests that perhaps this is a route the chareidim wish to explore in the future, to establish chareidi hesder programs.
KIKAR:
What about the Arabs?
ARIEL:
You are correct and I have already addressed the matter, which is supported by the prime minister. By year’s end there will be an initiative addressing appropriate serve for Israeli Arabs too.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
The problem is that the Israeli hareidim totally misunderstood the deal with the zionists 65 years ago. They didn’t realize that the zionists thought that the deal was that the hareidim would be given to gradually become “normal” (meaning Dati Leumi type religious, at most). From the zionist perspective, the zionists did their part of the deal by not cracking down on the hareidim immeidately (limiting yeshivos to “after school”, banning gender segregation, taking children away from fanatic parents since it is in the best interests of the child to be brought up “modern”, etc.) – but the hareidim didn’t live up to their obligation to give up being so old fashioned.
Just like the Jews in Europe 75 years ago, who clearly were at fault (from the majority’s perspective) for wrongfully breathing their air and living on their land.
Well said, akuperma. Your insightful and always on-target commentary is, as always, well appreciated.
With that line of thinking, why not simply outlaw true Torah practices and laws in this modern time. Force a civil action like the one in the times of the Greeks by the Maccabees?
The current situation is not viable and did not exist in Europe. The Chareidim cannot continue to expect the non-Chareidim to pay for their choice to sit and learn. If you want to learn, do so without forcing someone else to pay for it. what do you think will happen when everyone is religious? We will still need an army! Just look at last week’s parsha.
To #1
The zionists also had no idea that the Israeli charedi head holds as an axiomatic principle that the only way to maintain its lifestyle is to separate themselves as much as possible, even at the expense of a life of poverty, from non charedim. Part of the charedi success is due to demonizing the non charedim.
To akuperma
you write “The problem is that the Israeli hareidim totally misunderstood the deal with the Zionists 65 years ago. They didn’t realize that the Zionists thought that the deal was that the hareidim would be given to gradually become “normal”
The case is a little bit different and here it is. The problem is that after the holocaust hashem tried to give a chance to klal yisrael to do t’shuva and encourage more Torah and mitzvos. The Israeli government and the secular Jews totally misunderstood the deal with the hashem 3,335 years ago. They don’t realize that hashem thought that the deal was that the Israeli government and the secular Jews would be given this chance to gradually become “normal” according to hashem’s standard. From hashen’s perspective, hashem did his part of the deal by not cracking down on the Zionists immediately but the but the Zionists didn’t live up to their obligation to give up being so old fashioned.
Just like the zionists secular Jews in Europe 75 years ago, who clearly were at fault (from the majority’s perspective) for wrongfully breathing their air and living on the holy land.
DivineOnion: No one is asking the non-hilonim to pay anything. It would be nice if you allowed hareidim to take “on the books jobs” without having to serve in the army (as you do for Arabs), but that isn’t what the fight is about. The mamash hareidim refuse to accept zionist money; the also are quite willing to live under Arab rule (which is probably the only way the war will ever end). The only issue is whether the Israeli government will conscript those hareidim who object to military service for halachic reasons. Frankly, I’m surprised they are even trying since unwilling soldiers who question the legitimacy of the state and regard the war effort as dubious will be very undesirable soldiers assuming they ever do get conscripted. — You should limit your efforts at conscription to those who favor a zionist state – but surprise – they’ve been enlisting on a regular basis already but may stop as soon as you start throwing yeshiva students into prison.
wasnt the dati party (nrp) alongside with shinui which brought about gush katif
Chardi people pay taxes as well. And besides, the boys in yeshiva are far more refined and dignified than the secular school graduates. And in regards to the money that the government distributes – in no proportion do the chareidim get more. By far, most of it goes (and I’m talking about proportionally) to chiloni needs, or even worse, to some unwise things. There are statistics.
“wasnt the dati party (nrp) alongside with shinui which brought about gush katif”
Nope. Shinui had already left the government in an unrelated dispute. The NRP and Ichud Leumi left the government in protest of the disengagement. The Ashkenazi Charedim then joined the government and supported it during the disengagement.
Sorry to get too basic, but what is the official response if today’s Moshe Rabeinu – MK Dov Lipman – says – “your brothers will go to war and you sit here?!?” I know we are right to refuse going to the army preparing to protect other Jews – especially the worthless ones or even refuse national service in an effort to do what some cynically call national chesed (Gevald!). I just forgot how to formulate the position to show I am right. Is it as simple as saying Gdolei Dor say so and not relate to the Par He’alem Davar Shel Tzibur for the sin offering the Sanhedrin must give if ever they made a wrong ruling. Of course that opens up a whole new can of worms…