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Thousands of haredim will join the IDF
Photo: Yaron Brener

Haredim to be drafted starting 2013

In aftermath of Tal Law expiration, IDF will draft haredim starting summer of 2013, expecting 14,000 new ultra-Orthodox soldiers in two years

Following the expiration of the Tal Law, mandatory army service will apply to all 18-year-old Israeli citizens, starting the summer of 2013 and within the next two years, some 14,000 haredi teens are expected to join the draft, Ynet learned Monday. 

 

Nevertheless, as long as the Knesset does not regulate the issue of enlisting haredim to the IDF, tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men will be officially exempt from IDF service.

 

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The IDF started the draft process for haredi men who were born in 1994-1995, – 6,670 and 7,800 new soldiers, respectively – the State reported, in response to a High Court petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.

 

According to the State outline's, the IDF will also draft those who will turn 19 in 2013 – 7,800 new soldiers – and will gradually enlist those who will reach the drafting age the following years – expectedly some 8,000 new soldiers annually.

 

Haredi soldiers will apparently be serving in combat and technological units, and possibly in the Defense and Public Security ministries, the police and the Shin Bet.

 

As for the numerous ultra-Orthodox men over the age of 20, the State informed the court that the "IDF knows that unless a solution is devised in the matter within one-year's time they will no longer be subjected to a mandatory draft."

 

The statement added that though the current outline offers appropriate solution to the issue of enlisting haredi men the issue must be regulated by law so as to align with the High Court's ruling to allow Tal Law to expire.

 

According to the State, since the outline offers a solution to many of the motions filed against the decision to allow Tal Law to expire, the High Court should dismiss the motions. Many of the petitioners, however, noted that the outline only offers a partial solution to a national problem.

 

According to Tzruya Medad-Luzon, legal advisor of the Movement for Quality Government, "A large population of the State of Israel has gone under the radar of Israel's legal system and will probably be officially and unconstitutionally exempt from serving in the IDF.

 

"At the very least the State must order the draft of those who should have joined the IDF and review who among them can be assigned either to the Reserves or to regular service," Medad-Luzon added. 

 

The IDF, however, opposes to a simultaneous draft of all those who are older than 19, since it poses great hindrances, both logistically – in enlisting massive numbers of soldiers – and socially – mainly due to the fact that haredim cannot be serving alongside women.

 

 

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פרסום ראשון: 11.12.12, 23:00
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