Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is looking for a way out as efforts continue to amend the nation’s draft law, seeking to make it increasingly difficult for frum women to receive a deferment from IDF service. The prime minister realizes advancing such a move is a deal-breaker with chareidi parties, and such a move would result in an immediate coalition crisis.

In accordance with the bill sponsored by MK (Kadima) Yoel Hasson, a female seeking a draft deferment would have to present documentation attesting to her years in yeshiva. The military will be empowered to doubt such a declaration and move ahead with enlisting the female candidate. In addition, chareidi MKs object because a female who is just becoming frum and unable to show yeshiva documentation would not have any protection.

Even though the female would be entitled to appeal a draft decision, the committee is comprised of military personnel and a retired judge points out MK (Yahadut HaTorah) R’ Eliezer Moses and he feels this forum it not too likely to exhibit a measure of understanding favoring the women’s position. He insists that at the very least, a dayan or rav must be a member of this appeal panel.

Moses has assumed an active role, and in recent weeks he has meet on a number of occasions with Justice Minister Yaakov Ne’eman, seeking to find a solution.

During the last cabinet meeting, it was decided to establish a committee to probe the matter. Serving on the committee are Ne’eman, Minister of Housing (Shas) Ariel Atias, Deputy Defense Minister (Labor) Matan Vilnai, MK (Yahadut HaTorah) R’ Moshe Gafne, Coalition Whip (Likud) MK Ze’ev Elkin, MK Moses Cabinet Secretary Tzvi Hauser and a representative of the IDF’s Personnel Branch.

Despite meeting for hours, the committee members have to date failed to reach a consensus. Moses announced that the bill as it stands today is unacceptable to his party and moving ahead with it would represent a violation of the coalition agreement.

Regarding the draft of women stated Moses, “gedolei yisrael stated this is ‘hereg v’al ya’avor’ and the party remains opposed and there is no way to make such a move ‘kosher’ since it is against halacha”. Moses added that if the current bill is presented ‘as is’, he will demand the prime minister call for coalition discipline in line with the coalition agreement, compelling coalition members to oppose it.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)