There is disappointment among Defense Ministry officials regarding the chareidi response to the draft for a new conscription law. According to a Kikar Shabbos News report, after speaking with “senior Defense Ministry officials”, they explain they are not getting involved in the internal chareidi machlokes surrounding the draft bill.

The officials were surprised to hear the Moetzas Gedolei Torah of Agudas Yisrael instructed its representatives in Knesset to oppose the current version and to break from the coalition if it is passed.

The unnamed senior officials are quoted explaining, “This is a proportionate and reasonable bill that, in the opinion of jurists, is most likely to stand the test of the High Court of Justice.”

Sources at the Defense Ministry explain that they are not interested in the internal problems of the sector and the differences of opinion and the map of the various interests at play. “We brought a good law and anyone who wishes to, will to do what he thinks,” they say. “We will not interfere in the chareidi disputes and will not enter the internal political games, which will decide on their own,” Kikar quotes the unnamed officials saying.

“The chareidi approach has always rejected the problem, and instead of postponing the issue for another six and a half years, they prefer to deal with the cancellation of the existing law by the High Court of Justice in a month. The yeshiva students will be deserters, not in a few years, but in a month, and therefore these are arguments that seek to invalidate the new law without any real reason.”

At the same time, chareidi elements respond to claims published in Hamodia that in three years’ time they will have to cancel the law or bring yeshiva students who are willing to enlist and say that these claims are incorrect.

According to them, anyone who reads the law understands that in order for it to be canceled, they should not meet the goals for three consecutive years, which is considered to be the most remote and unreasonable scenario. In addition, consideration is given to meeting 85 percent of the goals, as well as additional concessions that will make it possible to meet the targets.

They explain, if the annual induction goals are removed, the bill will not stand the test of the High Court of Justice after it is passed into law and challenged by opponents. They add, “At first, all the chareidim agreed, and suddenly everyone began to draw in his direction because of internal politics.”

Political commentators mention that the strong opponents of the new law memorandum are those extremist elements who also opposed the Tal Law at the time. “Their real goal is to blow up the agreements and not try to act in a dialogue and unity to reach an accepted and agreed outline,” the commentators say.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)