Its easier to create a problem then to get out of one, as we all know. We can compare the African fiasco ( illegals in Israel for years w/o any remedy), to the latest Israeli boob. Going further, last summer's protests are back, with a vengence, now blaming the police for just about everything. Reminds me of the attempt to curtail some commodities to the Gaza Strip, that backfired. Israeli leaders seem in a fog...always confused, never thinking ahead. This Tal thing was a problemo from the get go. To exempt boys by the thousands due to religious study, while requiring others, was insane. One sign reads, better prison than the draft. Says it all. They are timid, meek, frankly afraid of a little hard work and pressure (and risk), Its easier to sit and study Torah, Talmad, and the prophets in perpetuity. No danger, no officer barking orders. Now they have power in numbers..and growing. They are right, tanks will not be feasible, this is not Syria. You cannot arrest them or close yeshivas. No easy ans. Perhaps a prof. army..no draftees except in an emergency, failure to show up would be treason. Give the men and women good benefits, NOT available to others. Aiding the Charedi (and Arabs) has spoiled them..they believe they are owed stipends, money grants, other benefits w/o exception. One American religious lady living in Bklyn tells me all her relatives look fwd to an easy life studying Torah in Israel. In the USA they would have to find jobs. Natl service? Also unfair to those in combat units dont you think? Everyone in Israel seems to have a counter proposal..frankly its extortion. And multiple parties which can bring down the govt aint helping, as we are seeing now. Israel needs 4 parties, with internal settlements of policy before Knesset decides..and a constitution. Hows about that professional army?

Is anything in Israel not controversial I ask? Here in Los Angeles County, major above ground and below ground subways,costing billions are being created. Sure, some protest..environment, inconvenience, etc., but they get built. In Israel, a short subway above ground linking Jerusalem, is protested with violence...and religiousdemanding separation of genders. Oy vey, leave it to the Jews. Yet, can we compare Israeli transporation to even my LA County, with its 10m people in 3,000 square miles. No one is throwing stones or worse. Israel is too contentious a nation. Its govt is not respected or feared, same with its police. Barking at a cop here is a felony guys. Bibi knew that the remedy was impractical, the religious crowd has it too good..with yeshiva studies, in a comfortable environment..and enjoyable. The army is different. But w/o the army, those yeshiva boys and their families would be in serious danger ( read WW2 history of the Jews). Get it.

If you think you can make this people work or serve better have your head inspected ,... They're growing in numbers and will ruin you just they way they ruined other nations and kingdoms after establish themselves there,...

Of why the Israeli government can get nothing done.

They wouldn't have to worry about women singing, they can learn Torah when they are not learning fighting the enemy and they would learn skills not found in the yeshivas to make them more eligible to both have a job and study Torah.

more owners of the land of Israel than haredim? Who are the seculars to tell haredi Jews - who have been living in Israel for hundreds of years before the secular Zionists came - what to do? Because the seculars were the ones to grab the land back from the Arabs, doesn't give them ownership and the power to rule over haredim. If not for haredi Jews throughout the centuries, secular Zionists would never have gotten this land in the first place. It's only thanks to the general haredi population for being the only ones to adhere to the Torah that Judaism carried on and they got the land. Isn't it bad enough that the seculars have desecrated the holiness of the land with their immorality and iniquities against G-d and His Torah, do they want to completely eradicate Judaism and secularize all haredim? So now, bug off and stop trying to secularize haredim. Haredim will never join the secular army and the self-appointed government will not lock up tens of thousands of haredim.

You want to go and study torah all your life - do it on somebody else's dime. Maybe sign up to Neturei Karta and move to Iran.

Netanyahu's government is going to take some major hits. The PM's management of internal affairs at this point is at an all time low, concerning any provision of intelligent, progressive decisions. Mofaz will wind up splitting, Labor is vying for power; the government coalition is a farse and is ready to collapse. Bibi waffled for too long without providing solid solutions to pressing issues. Politiking is suicide. He should have just done the right thing. He won't be PM much longer, unfortunately. Empty manipulations only last so long before everything crashes and burns. Its time for a change: a more self-reliant government that has vision and has a viable plan for Israels future and progress, with specific targets that are sophisticated and create jobs, wealth and a positive atmosphere. Currently, all of these things are paralyzed in Israel. Lieberman needs to form a coalition of his own and take the reigns: we need a very strong Hawk right now who loves Israel and will do what is unpopular for the benefit of ALL of Israel. The time is now.

Let these anti zionist bums go to jail, but give them only rabbinut food, let them rot in their frumkeit.

I certainly am not.. I work hard for my family and pay taxes and the like just like you.. Many chareidim are like me.

An anti-semite Jew like yourself, who hates anything that doesn't fall within HIS vision of what Judaism ought to be. And certainly hates God's vision of what Judaism ought to be! I am NOT saying that they are correct. They are not! But to spew forth bile hatred IS CERTAINLY NOT JEWISH!!!

About time Israel got a decent leader and not a poll following wimp like Bibi. Separate religion from the state already, the consequences of not doing so are already brimming over and destroying any chance of progress.

Haredim work as hard or even harder than secular. They get up early to learn Torah, pray and then are off to work and pay taxes like everyone else. You're mimicking nonsense like other secular to make you feel good.

And originated in Europe! Get an education in history!!!

the zionists, who have existed less than 2 centuries. Haredim have existed from Mattan Torah, from Avraham Aviinu. Time for YOU to get an education in history and in Jewish history.

All right, let's consider two different sets of Jews in terms of their ability to adapt to the new environment. High marks go to the seculars, clearly they have updated their lifestyle to reflect the challenges of actually being a modern western nation and one in a hot climate. And Haredim? Lads, you have to do something about those uniforms, they clearly were designed for a cold climate. Move along, design a Haredi Tropical look.

Here are the facts of the matter... The State of Israel has approximately 6.4 million Jews. How many Rabbis and Yeshiva students should be on the payroll and how many Yeshiva students should be exempted from public service ? A Rabbi's job includes : Officiating at services for Shabbat; Holy Days; Counselling, Mentoring; Being a fixed point of reference for a community; and assisting with life cycle events like births, shidduchs, weddings, brit milahs, bar/bat mitzvahs and deaths. If one Rabbi is needed per 1,000 people then this means Israel currently needs 6,400 "Doctors of the Law". (Rabbis’ remuneration : 40 weeks p.a. at Shul; 4 weeks Training; 8 weeks Holiday. Pay $125,000 p.a.) You also need a reserve group of Rabbis to fill in when permanent Rabbis take a break from their shuls. (1,000 in number). You also need schochets, sofers and Rabbis skilled in divorce and funerals. (1,000 in number). Not all Yeshivah students go on to become Rabbis so let's say 1,000 spots could be reserved p.a. for those interested in becoming Rabbis. Some attrition would be allowed to take place as people drop out of the course. Only the best and the brightest, like with scholarship programs in the West would be accepted. No more ersatz training by pseudo "important" institutions. Lastly you need a core group of head Rabbis, i.e. A Sanhedrin of 71, plus an administrative, management group to oversee the others of say 500. Total Rabbis/Yeshiva Students needed p.a. = Approx. 10,000 (Should Diaspora Rabbis be trained in Israel first ? Interesting question which would add to this number. Funding issues arise also.) So if the State/Kingdom is to fund the education of these yeshivah students the budget for this section of the population is limited. (The private/public partnership model of funding for Rabbis and institutions also has gotten messy. Too many crossed boundaries. The Sanhedrin, Rabbis and Yeshivah Students should be true "Public Servants", not able to be or willing to be compromised.) These 1,000 Yeshivah Students would be exempted from national military service. It is all about getting the balance right. The 54,000 “exempted person’s” figure is out of kilter. The current ratio is not what Ben Gurion envisaged at the time of the founding of the state. In 64 years it has really blown out. It also is not the ratio that Moses, if he was alive today, would recommend for a modern nation state/kingdom. A nation or kingdom needs to constantly monitor what types of jobs are necessary to keep things ticking over. The financial relationship between the taxpayer sector and the dependent sector which includes : Special Needs People; The Elderly; Homeless; Prisoners; Sick and Injured; Infants; Adolescents; and Students also needs to be monitored and managed properly so that resentment doesn’t build between different sections. People don’t mind paying their taxes or contributing “a shekel to the upkeep of the Temple” if everyone is contributing to the best of their abilities. The key to a healthy economy and community is for everyone to contribute to the national effort in some way, shape or form. If everyone shares the load the burden becomes easier to shoulder. Also, if the State of Israel makes the right moves in the coming days, weeks and months then the existential threats will diminish and the defence budget will be able to be trimmed. (Think the Isaiah "Swords into plowshares" dynamic kicking in.) So the Tal Law issue is connected to the larger geopolitical picture.