New IDF recruits (archives)
Photo: Shaul Golan
Ministers reject bill that restricts draft-dodging artists
Legislative Affairs Committee rejects bill meant to 'prevent an absurd situation whereby a publicly funded body directs its budgets to celebrities who are unwilling to share the burden'
The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs rejected on Sunday a bill that proposed to prevent artists who did not serve in the IDF from participating in events that are sponsored by the State.
The ministers from Likud, Shas and Independence voted against the bill, while the three ministers from Yisrael Beiteinu voted for it.
Prior to the vote, Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat expressed concern that if approved the bill would "paralyze the activity of hundreds of institutions and result in the dismissal of thousands of people."
On Saturday fellow Likud member Minister Michael Eitan said he would vote against the bill. "If the bill is aimed at hurting artists who cannot serve in the army – like the Arabs and haredim, then I would have a problem with it. I can’t accept this formula," he said.
The explanation to the proposal states that according to the army, the draft-dodging phenomenon has gained steam over the past few years. The bill's initiators claim celebrities who avoid IDF service set a bad example for Israel's youth.
"The goal of the bill is to prevent an absurd situation, whereby a publicly funded body directs its budgets to celebrities who are unwilling to share the burden,” read the bill’s explanatory notes.
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