"This government proved it can make a change, even in the most explosive
topics. This issue ended coalitions. In three years, 70% of haredim
will be drafted. This is a badge of pride for this government and our
party. We promised our voters we would not give in and we are keeping
our promise.”
Peri Committee Passes Haredi Draft Law
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
It’s almost official.
Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Equalizing the [Defense] Burden approved imposing criminal penalties on all draft dodgers – including haredim – and passed the new draft law out of committee.
The bill still needs to be approved by the cabinet and then must face a Knesset vote.
While agreeing to the criminal penalties, the committee delayed imposing them during a four-year interim period – meaning haredim can dodge the draft with near impunity for the next four years. And when those criminal penalties do go into effect, it will be the Defense Minister – not the IDF or the state prosecutors - who determines on a case-by-case basis whether or not they should be used.
That was part of compromise reached with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party – which opposed any criminal penalties or civil sanctions for draft dodging by their haredi allies.
Finance Minister Yair Lapid, the head of the Yesh Atid Party, trumpeted the committee’s decision to pass the law in a press conference following the vote.
"This government proved it can make a change, even in the most explosive topics. This issue ended coalitions. In three years, 70% of haredim will be drafted. This is a badge of pride for this government and our party. We promised our voters we would not give in and we are keeping our promise,” Lapid reportedly said.
Technology and Space Minister Yaakov Peri of the Yesh Atid Party headed the committee and was happy with its outcome.
"Now there will be an obligation of service also on haredim…The bill corrects a historic injustice. It is a sensitive issue but we had an obligation to the serving public to come up with a proposal that is balanced,” Peri reportedly said.
Under the new law, 1,800 leading haredi Torah students will be exempt from military and civilian national service each year.