Despite The End Of Haredi Draft Exemptions, Nothing Has Changed – And Not Much Is Likely To

The Tal Law, which gave haredi yeshiva students (illegal) exemption from military service, expired over a month ago on the order of the High Court of Justice, but politicians and the IDF don't appear to be in any rush to draft a replacement law. As things stand, haredi yeshiva students can no longer evade military service – theoretically. In reality, the end of the Tal Law has not brought any change in haredi IDF service, or penalties for evading it.

Amos Harel writes in Ha'aretz:

…Shahar Ilan, deputy director of Hiddush - an NPO that fights for "Religious Freedom and Equality" - offers a blunt analysis of recent steps taken by the security establishment. Frequent committee meetings staged by Barak, Ilan claims, serve as a fig leaf to protect the state during anticipated High Court petitions calling for a change in ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions. The committee sessions also allay public concern, Ilan believes; they create a sense that this vexing issue is being addressed. If you're worried about ultra-Orthodox men being forced into the army, you can relax, says Ilan: "No additional Haredi man will be drafted during the coming year," he says.

Anti-Plesner consensus

This week, a group of social scientists addressed the draft exemption issue, assessing simulated models in a project sponsored by the Open University of Israel. The simulation exercises, sponsored by Prof. Yagil Levy - a leading researcher of topics involving the IDF and Israeli society - dealt with possible consequences of changes to the Tal Law, focusing on scenarios and proposals that have already been considered. Three alternative models were reviewed - the Plesner committee's proposal, a compromise alternative backed by Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon, and a draft paradigm submitted by Yair Lapid. Participants in this simulation assessment included Prof. Stuart A. Cohen from Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Reuven Gal, former head of the civil service administration.

Somewhat surprisingly, the eight researchers involved in the project reached what might be called an anti-Plesner consensus. Two months ago, the Plesner committee's proposals received broad backing, particularly among media commentators, but these eight researchers adopted a much more skeptical stance toward them. The researchers, none of them ultra-Orthodox, attacked the Plesner recommendations from various angles. The participants contended that the Plesner proposals' implementation would not have much utility, and would likely bring more damage than benefits.

Among other issues, they anticipate that forceful application of the Plesner plan would incite extreme responses among the Haredi population, and bring to an end trends of pragmatism which have been discernible in the ultra-Orthodox world in recent years.

The state, the researchers contended, would find it very difficult to enforce the new law, and confrontations with the ultra-Orthodox would exacerbate the rift between religious and secular populations in the country. Such controversy would derail trends of Haredi integration in the workplace; and the IDF would have to deal with a new group of extremely unmotivated conscripts.

Massive compulsory conscription would institutionalize inequality in the IDF ranks; soldiers would serve on different tracks; prodigal salary demands would undermine the ethos of compulsory service, and possibly even bring about the collapse of the compulsory service model.

Similar claims were articulated two months ago during a similar symposium sponsored by the Women's International Zionist Organization, at a time when it seemed that the coalition was seriously considering adopting the Plesner committee model. Some researchers at this week's conference warned that widespread Haredi conscription would exacerbate trends of female exclusion in the army, and contribute to trends that could turn female service into a voluntary option in Israel (as a result of the reluctance of young secular women to serve under newly degrading circumstances ).…

Comments

[Jeff]

Well, I guess they were right. Prayer does work.

[BabySteps]

Despite The End Of Haredi Draft Exemptions, Nothing Has Changed – And Not Much Is Likely To

I thought that everyone agreed that nothing would happen. Why the surprise?

Too many people involved in a situation that has been going on for too long of a period of time. Change will only come about incremently and such a change has not been put out on the table as of yet.

[Jake]

What I had predicted.

[Jeff]

Change will only come about incremently and such a change has not been put out on the table as of yet.

There will be no change. They will be the death of Israel.

[BabySteps]

Change will only come about incremently and such a change has not been put out on the table as of yet.

There will be no change. They will be the death of Israel.

Posted by: Jeff | September 09, 2012 at 04:57 PM

Hopefully the need for compulsive military service will behind us one day. Not long ago we here in the US had a draft and all the turmoil that goes with it. B"H that is behind us now. Hopefully the same in Israel!

[Dave]

Jeff, it won't be the death of Israel. It will be the bankruptcy of Israel because not enough Haredim work.

[Jeff]

Bankruptcy, death... in the end, it will be the same.

[Jeff]

Posted by: baba boooey

Shmarya, is there anyway to block this congenital imbecile?

[Eli, what me messiah?]

Shmarya, thank you for finally blocking baba boooey. The schtick got old.

[Rocky]

As Israel steps up for its calls for a strike on Iran, with the US doing the heavy lifting, the Haredi continue to think it is not their job to defend their own country. Both Jeff and Dave are right. I suppose it doesn't much matter which comes first, as the second will soon follow.

Israel is not like other countries as it is surrounded by hostile neighbors and has been since 1948. There will always be a need for the country to have a military draft. The US has not been threatened by its neighbors for 200 years, and as I recall, my own state of California was once part of Mexico. I guess we stole it fair and square.

[Jeff]

Shmarya, thank you for finally blocking baba boooey. The schtick got old.

I don't know if he can block him. Shmarya's just been deleting his gerbil droppings.

[Howard Stern]

Ba bahh booooey

Posted by: baba boooey | September 10, 2012 at 06:26 AM

Welcome back baba!

[Garnel Ironheart]

Change will come slowly and incrementally. Forcing it through would cause huge unrest and bring in a whole bunch of recruits who don't even know functional amounts of Hebrew.
They don't want to go and the army doesn't want them right now. No wonder nothing's changed.
The government has to introduce obvious financial incentives that will force them into the army, like no social benefits and money if they don't go.

[Jeff]

They don't want to go and the army doesn't want them right now. No wonder nothing's changed.

I guess that's true.

[John Nagle, Silicon Valley, CA]

The IDF's routine draft procedures for new 17 year olds are in operation. The letters are going out to both haredim and seculars. Haredim are reporting to the pre-induction centers for testing. They apparently don't get deferment paperwork any more.

The IDF has a plan. See "http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/idf/idf-new-guidelines-for-drafting-and-integrating-haredim-includes-interaction-with-women/2012/08/31/" It looks like it could work. So far, nobody on the political side has ordered the IDF to stop.