On Thursday 20 Shevat 5773 Shas representatives are scheduled to meet with President Shimon Peres, at which times they are expected to recommend to the president to give the mandate for assembling the coalition to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
As Shas continues contact with Likud/Beitenu officials in the hope of finding a place in the coalition, Shas leaders are increasingly concerned with post-elections statements released by Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, who is signaling he will unwilling to enter any coalition that compromises on the share the burden issue. Realizing Lapid’s party holds 19 seats, Shas leaders are well aware that despite ongoing efforts, it may find itself in the opposition in the 19th Knesset.
Lapid’s plan calls for setting a ceiling of 400 talmidim annually who will merit a draft deferment, to continue limud Torah, while all the others would be compelled to serve in the IDF or an approved national service program. Shas and the other chareidi representatives in Knesset realize this is a non-starter. It may depend on other potential coalition partners and just how unwilling Lapid and his colleagues will be to a share the burden compromise solution, more in line with the plan of Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon.
Kikar Shabbat reports the Shas leader Eli Yishai stated in a conversation that if a ceiling regarding the number of talmidim eligible to continue learning is set, his party will not enter such a coalition.
“This is not only a red line” stated Yishai, “there are many things which are unacceptable for us, including the drafting of young men into the military at the age of 18, as well as a ceiling of 400 permitted to continue their limud Torah, and it is clear this is a call to close the yeshivos and Torah community and this we will not permit.”
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5 Responses
That’s good. BB likes red lines. Red lines prevent war.
Unfortunately the state of Israel is democratic and non religious (yet). The platform for yesh atid is pretty normal for a democratic non religious country. Their platform calls for 1,000 bnei torah to not be drafted. More importantly it allows ALL bnei yeshiva to work without any military or national service. In five years from now – which is an eternity in Isarel, they will be required to perform some form of service. ZAKA is included. Unfortunatley the state of israel cannot support all of the bnai torah. They will start to act like the US govt.If the moderator allows, I can provide the link.
“including the drafting of young men into the military at the age of 18” – learning boys, non learning boys, university boys, working boys………anyone at age 18??
to bklyn mom. they can stay in yeshiva during the five years. they just wont get paid for it. it is the same thing in america, you dont get paid to learn. they will eliminate the subsidies – the same as in the USA. In Israel 1/3 of the country works, 1/3 serves in th emilitary, 1/3 pays taxes. the problem is that it is the same 1/3 for all 3 of the above. they cant afford it anymore. I wish they could still do it.
“If the moderator allows, I can provide the link.”
Hmmm, apparently not.