The mounting pressure on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu suggests one thing with certainty; that a new draft bill will soon become reality in Israel that will result in an increased number of chareidim in the IDF. While gedolim such as Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita and the Gavaad of the Eida Chareidis Shlita call for increased learning and tefilos, the government is working to seal a draft bill and have it expeditiously passed into law. Public officials and prominent notables are lining up to speak on radio and TV news to join the parade of those calling upon chareidim to “share the burden”.
Yisrael Beitenu party officials remain adamant, announcing they will oppose any bill that does not include Arab military service. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, following the announcement that his Likud party approves the Plesner recommendations calls for debating the status of Arab citizens and service.
He added “I understand the families of those who serve and the current situation simply cannot go one. Everyone must serve…”
10,000-12,000 people took part in the motzei shabbos Tel Aviv rally against the prime minister, demanding the draft of chareidim into the IDF. (J. Post reported “tens of thousands”/Haaretz 20,000/ Israel Police 10-12,000).
On Sunday morning, 19 Tammuz 5772, Prime Minister Binyamin announced his Likud party is accepting the recommendations contained in the Plesner report last week. Netanyahu also met with Kadima leader Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz and they announced they are forming a committee which will conclude its mandate by the next cabinet meeting on Sunday, 25 Tammuz, to draw up the new law, the draft law that will replace the Tal Law which will become defunct at the end of July 2012.
The committee will include the prime minister and Kadima party leader along with MK Yochanan Plesner and Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon. Representatives of the treasury, justice ministry, defense ministry and the National Service Authority will also be involved.
The prime minister stated the system must change, albeit gradually, explaining the error of the past 64 years must be corrected and everyone must share the burden. The committee will present its draft law no later than next Sunday.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke with confidence, as if the new bill was a matter of fact, praising the impetus while confirming the “current unacceptable situation” is ending once and for all.
Mr. Netanyahu explained those who serve will receive benefits for their service. Alternatively those who do not serve will be penalized.
Minister (Likud) Silvan Shalom added if Arabs are not compelled to serve at this time it will never occur.
MK (Yahadut HaTorah) Yisrael Eichler spoke with Israel Radio on Sunday morning, 18 Tammuz 5772, explaining “chareidim will serve in many branches of the IDF but first the IDF must accommodate the torah lifestyle and show that frum people can serve, in a proper environment, which does not yet exist”.
He went on to explain that mean the soldiers must be segregated from females, receive acceptable kashrus and permitted to daven and learn as determined by rabbonim. Until such time this is a viable option he explained there is nothing to speak about.
He accused the politicians of carrying out a “disengagement from torah” and warns the results may chas v’sholom be disastrous. He spoke of the politicians who lament the fact “Too many young men are learning and this is dangerous”, explaining just how preposterous such a statement is and concluding by citing with the exception of N. Korea, Israel is the only country that drafts women.
On that note, Likud Deputy Minister Gila Gamliel told Israel Radio she is not satisfied with Plesner and she plans to advance a similar action to compel all women to serve in the IDF as they should.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
We are not N. Korea, and in a democracy, there should be a voluntary draft as there is in other democratic countries.
Perhaps 1,000 18 years old chilonim should be drafted each year to learn in yeshiva for two years before their army service. Let the chilonim also share our burden!
The ONLY way we will WIN is with achdus! Among ALL the Chareidim!
If we stick together they will loose big time! What are they going to do? Lockup 10,000 people? If all Million Chareidim get together and protest, what are they going to do?
The answer is “there will be nothing for them to do. Matter of fact, it will back fife, because chilonim will say they are not serving as well and the entire country will be up the creek.
Yes, we have to daven and learn more, but what we also need is Achdus among ourselves!!!
Think of it: 60,000 new uniforms, pairs of boots, and sets of inoculations will be ready and waiting at the induction base and no one will show up.
Since when is studying Torah a burden? What happened to the joy of Torah? It disappears when there’s a gun at your head, forcing you to learn.
emunah613 says:
July 8, 2012 at 10:34 am
We are not N. Korea, and in a democracy, there should be a voluntary draft as there is in other democratic countries.
most have drafts I guess that is what one gets from not learning secular studies
This whole draft business reminds me of Russia, the Soviet Union was the only country most know about where those who didn’t adhere to the draft were penalised in the process. And the biggest nerve is that even the frum soldiers that do serve are not even accommodated. How dare somebody talk about a draft when the religious people who do serve are not given their basic religious rights. Its the Sitra Achra working hard. And making women serve through a draft is terrible, not even suitable for a secular mindset.
I hope that they remember the the strenght of those learning protects Eretz Yisrael
So they are trying to go with the “Jim Crow” technique with segregation of the undesirable. It worked well in the United States.
That’s why America to this very day has an all white leadership and the KKK is the leading force in American politics.
#1, what is a “voluntary draft”?
Perhaps too much shrek is being made about the proposed bill. I understand there will be another way to serve, and that’s by serving in an approved program, such as by teaching or social work. I personally see nothing wrong with that. As far as a volunteer military is concerned, yes, in America military service is voluntary, because our country itself is not at war. During wartime, e.g. World War II, Vietnam, Korea, there was a draft.
To #3 akuperma, what kind of Kool-Aid have you been drinking? All white leadership? Maybe I need new glasses but the last time I looked we have a black in the highest position in the land, President. And the KKK the leading force in American politics? That’s so absurd I’d rather not waste time by replying.
#11, the draft was a bad thing in America, and was finally abolished because of the damage it did both to society and to the military. It’s equally a bad thing in Israel. Conscription is slavery, and slavery is wrong.