The Yesh Atid Party headed by Yair Lapid did not waste time, filing a petition with the High Court of Justice, challenging the cabinet decision of Sunday, 25 Kislev 5773 permitting 1,300 chareidim to enter a civilian service program as an alternate to military service.

Yesh Atid issued a response on Sunday, calling the government response “disgraceful” since it seeks to dupe the public and ignore the High Court ruling abolishing the Tal Law and ordering the draft of chareidim into military service.

Proponents of the civilian service plan feel that while the chareidim will not be “equivalent to a combat soldier in the Golani Brigade for example, there are many non-combat posts in the IDF as well.” Many seem disturbed by Lapid’s move as the chareidim will enter a state-approved service program, albeit not wearing IDF kakis.

Interestingly, in the case of Yair Lapid, the head of the Yesh Atid Party, his IDF service consisted of being a correspondent for the IDF’s BaMachane Magazine, also a far cry from a combat military position.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)