Dr. Yossi Beilin, a former left-wing MK and cabinet member explains his solution surrounding the ‘share the burden’ conflict, which seems to be at the crux of coalition negotiations. Beilin feels that the solution can be built into the law, referring to the 1986 Security Service Law, Paragraph 39 gimmel, which makes provisions for “a woman who can prove that s/he cannot serve because of one’s conscious or from a religious family is released from service.”
In his column appearing in the daily Yisrael Hayom Beilin feels “it would be a mistake to determine the number of bnei yeshivos receiving a draft deferment today or in five years,” directing authorities to the law which he feels can simply be amended to include males as well as females.
Beilin feels the solution is ideal for chareidim will no longer be locked in yeshivos. One wishing to study Torah may and those wishing to study in a university or get a job and begin paying taxes may explore that option. He feels it is entirely possible that one who takes a deferment at age 18 may decide to serve later on after realizes that Israeli society expects us to do our part.
Beilin Is confident that by accepting this policy fewer chareidim will learn, and this will save money in state funding. Alternatively, more chareidim will be joining the work force and paying taxes. Beilin feels his plan will eliminate the need to establish a costly national service authority to oversee the chareidim, and this will pre vent firing many people from jobs which would be taken over by the national service members.
He points out that since this process occurs a year ahead of one entering the military, if military authorities feel the law is being abused, the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee can address that particular year’s draft and rule accordingly.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
In effect, anyone can then refuse to serve in the army, so they have a volunteer army. That is the only solution that will work. For years, many people have been saying “I’m busy learning” to avoid saying “I refuse to serve in your army since you are bunch of resha’im”.
The issue of funding yeshivos is separate and really unrelated, and doesn’t affect the most frum ones since they don’t accept zionist money to begin with.
If the army wants hareidi recruits, they can offer incentives such as frum units, money, etc.
Interesting idea floated by the Meretz party. Might work!!
Beilin, being a good international leftist, knows that under international human rights law, conscripting someone who objects due to conscious or religion is probably a crime. You can cut off benefits to non-soldiers, or give extra benefits to veterans – but you can’t throw someone in prison for refusing to be a soldier – especially over religion, and especially if they are highly visible.
#3 Not one party has ever mentioned prison terms so try another mode of punitive action.
#4- Actually, Lapid is very clear that he expects criminal sanctions. Most of the parties that support conscription also support treating refusal as a criminal matter. If the sanctions were limited to lose of the subsidy the government pays yeshiovos (which the most frum ones don’t even accept), this would be a purely economic discussion – not an emotional one with severe ramifications for the future of Israel.