Plesner Cmte. readies to tackle haredim's military service

Fourteen social groups present committee with list or principles meant to rectify 'historic discrimination between blood and blood'

Yoav Zitun|Published: 05.31.12 , 12:50

Fourteen social groups have formulated a list or principles on universal military service, demanding a comprehensive draft and taking harsh legal steps against draft dodgers.

Among the groups behind the brief are the Israeli Forum for Equal Service, representatives of the "IDF suckers" protest group, the Hiddush Movement, the Reform and Conservative movements and the National Students' Council.

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The brief was presented Thursday to the Plesner Committee, which was tasked with devising an alternative to the Tal Law – which regulated yeshiva students' military service.

In the brief's summery, the groups said that any solution other than universal service would be "missing out on a historic opportunity and may drive Israel into a serious economic and social crisis."

The groups also expressed their concern that despite the Coalition's uncompromising rhetoric on the matter, it is likely that a covert deal between the government and the religious parties is already in the works.

The principles were derived from High Court rulings "and are the bare minimum required to put a stop to the historic discrimination between blood and blood," the brief said.

The main articles include mandatory national or military service at the age of 18, with the decision of who will do which left up to the IDF; the government will not be able to exempt certain sectors for service; draft dogging will be subject to sanctions; and the State will not longer tolerate what the brief called "threats of civil insurrection."

"The Plesner Committee has to make brave decisions in favor of Israeli society, and not settle for cosmetic solutions that will only make things worse," the groups said in a statement.

"The public won't stand for another Tal fiasco," Hiddush VP Shahar Ilan said. "Members of the Plesner Committee must remember that they were not appointed to solve the Likud's coalitional problems, but to realize the principles of universal service of equal distribution of the burden."