Gadi Agamon (Photo: Gabi Menashe)
MK Yohanan Plesner
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Nahal Haredi soldiers (archives) Photo: Dudu Bachar
Photo: Pablo Bichman
'Additional Nahal Haredi battalion needed'
IDF official says military open to forming additional ultra-Orthodox companies should demand grow
The Army has revised its policy regarding the military placement of haredim and is now in support of establishing a new Nahal Haredi
battalion, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.
According to Brigadier-General Gadi Agmon, head of planning in the IDF's Personnel Directorate, there is a growing need to establish an additional battalion that would be able to accommodate ultra-Orthodox soldiers. Other senior IDF officers, however, are reluctant to support the venture.
Tal Law Controversy
Moran Azulay
Army is short thousands of soldiers – a problem that can be solved by recruiting haredim, official says
Agmon said that IDF is capable of absorbing thousands more soldiers in various frameworks. However, there is a growing need to establish a new Nahal Haredi battalion.
He presented his opinion during a meeting held by the committee tasked with finding an alternative to Tal Law – the legislation that exempts the ultra-Orthodox sector from military service.
Agmon further suggested imposing sanctions on yeshiva heads that deliver false reports regarding students who enlist in the IDF.
Committee Chairman MK Yohanan Plesner (Kadima) said that economic sanctions as well as positive incentives should be used to stop the draft dogging phenomenon.
The IDF said that, "Due to a growing need to increase enlistment quotas, the IDF is considering alternatives that were previously rejected, including the establishment of new Haredi frameworks."
