MKs volunteer for one-day reserve duty
MK Yisrael Hasson prompts 20 Knesset fellows, state comptroller to sign up as reservists for a day. Initiative part of Knesset's efforts to fight draft dodging
Some 20 Knesset Members have decided recently to take an active role in the fight against draft dodgers and will be putting in a voluntary day of reserve duty.
Former deputy Shin Bet chief MK Yisrael Hasson (Yisrael Beiteinu), the man behind the initiative, was joined by National Religious Party Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev, Kadima's Brigadier- General (Ret) Amira Dotan, and MKs Ran Cohen (Meretz-Yahad), and Esterina Tattman (Yisrael Beiteinu).
Joining them were Brigadier-General (Ret) MK Arieh Eldad (National Union-NRP), MK Limor Livnat (Likud) and MK Ya'acov Margi (Shas), as well as State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who – together with Brigadier-General Danni Van-Buren, who heads the IDF Reserves Directorate – will be taken over the 'soldiers' placement.
Going khaki. The volunteers (Photo: Moshe Klugheft)
"Reserve duty is no longer one preformed by soldiers alone," said Hasson. "We as MKs must take part in it; we must let everyone know that those serving as reservists are not suckers.
"The Knesset has seen various bills against draft dodgers, but we have to be proactive… I feel our fight against dodging in starting to bear fruit and I'm sure every soldier facing active reserve duty will think twice before skipping on what is an Israeli soldier's basic duty," he added.
Should the MKs' reserve duty prove successful, the Knesset hopes to make it an annual feat.
Zvika Brot contributed to this report
