Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon addressed the Knesset plenum as discussion continues on an amended draft law. He told lawmakers there are currently 5,000 chareidim serving in the military, serving in various areas including combat positions. “Attempts to compel [them] always results in damage” he added.

“Today, there are chareidim serving in the navy, intelligence, logistics and these are tracks that do not only take military service into consideration, but a starting point for civilian life” stated the senior minister.

He added the goal in 2014 was to bring 2400 chareidim into the IDF and they reached 2,380. The target for the coming year is 2,700, explaining this is not because of the size of the chareidi sector but because of the needs of the military.

He warned fellow lawmakers that seeking to compel this community always results in damage, and this is not the way to go. Ya’alon explained that when they dealt with criminal sanctions for non-compliance with the draft law, the numbers declined as fewer chareidim were reporting to induction center. He added that today there are over 12,000 university students and this is only because they are permitted to maintain their chareidi lifestyle. He stressed that from the perspective of Israeli society, this will be viewed as a historic time for there are those who serve and those who do not.

“This is an open wound in Israeli society and I never once referred to this as ‘sharing the burden’ for I always viewed this as a privilege and not a burden” conclude Ya’alon.

The Knesset on Monday, 4 Kislev, passed the amended draft bill in its first reading in a 60-45 vote

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)