Science Minister (HaBayit HaYehudi) Rabbi Dr. Daniel Hershkowitz, who is in charge of the nation’s national service programs stated on Sunday, that he has been informed by expert government legal officials that if a new Tal Law is not voted upon in Knesset by the time the Tal Law expires on July 31, 2012, the chareidim in civil and national service programs will not be able to continue for there will not be a law that permits them not to enter the IDF. Hershkowitz cites that if permitted to expire, there will be serious legal issues regarding chareidim in alternative service programs.

The minister explained such a reality would have an immediate impact on some 2,000 chareidim and threaten the progress made by these programs in the chareidi sector, calling on government leaders to legislate a new law by month’s end.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)