Ongoing Debates on Conscription Law in Israel
The Foreign Affairs and Security Committee of Israel is currently holding pivotal discussions regarding the conscription law. These debates, which started today (Monday) at 11:00, will continue tomorrow at 18:00, subject to the conclusion of the discussions in the Knesset plenum. The discussions are of significant importance as they address the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox community, a topic that has been procrastinated for 76 years.
The debates were emotionally charged, with families of abductees opening the discussions. Hadassah Lazar, sister of the abductee Shlomo Mansour, shared her poignant story, highlighting the suffering of her brother, the oldest abductee held by Hamas. She emphasized the dire conditions her brother is enduring and criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for not fulfilling his promises regarding the release of the abductees.
Following Lazar, the father of Avinatan Or, another prisoner of Hamas, expressed his frustration with the current situation, stating that military pressure alone will not resolve the issue with Hamas or secure the return of the kidnapped individuals. He stressed the need for a strategic approach to deal with Hamas.
Rabbi Tamir Garnot, head of the Seder yeshiva and bereaved father of the late Captain Amitie Garnot, also spoke during the debates. He argued that the Torah does not exempt anyone from fighting during times of war and expressed concerns about the potential impact of a sweeping conscription law on the Torah world. He proposed that the law be renamed the Torah Study Law and suggested allocating funds for Torah study under specific conditions.
MK Yuli Edelstein, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, emphasized the historical significance of these debates. He urged both coalition and opposition members to work together to bring about effective and correct legislation that meets the needs of the army.
Controversy Surrounding the Conscription Law
The promotion of the conscription law has sparked controversy. Less than a day after the government approved the extension of reserve service, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is discussing the conscription law. About a week ago, the Knesset Plenum approved the application of the Law of Continuity to exemption from enlistment in the IDF for the ultra-Orthodox who 'their doctrine is their art'. The law passed with the support of 63 MKs compared to 57 opponents.
The Law of Continuity allows the coalition to advance the bill that Gantz promoted in the previous Knesset, aiming to regulate the status of yeshivas, continue the budgeting of educational institutions, and recruit thousands of ultra-Orthodox individuals annually. However, the law is seen as controversial because it is perceived to meet the desire for equality in the burden rather than the army's needs, which desperately require soldiers for the ongoing war.
While Gantz envisioned the law as the first step in a gradual process to integrate the ultra-Orthodox into the army with low recruitment targets, there is skepticism about the government's intention to continue this process and set higher recruitment targets in the future.
- The discussions on the conscription law have brought to light the emotional and complex nature of the issue, with families of abductees sharing their personal stories and expressing their frustrations.
- The debates have highlighted the need for a strategic and effective approach to address the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox community, balancing the needs of the army with the preservation of the Torah world.
- The controversy surrounding the conscription law underscores the challenges faced by the Israeli government in finding a solution that satisfies all parties involved.
