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PM sides with haredim: No draft at age 18
Ynet reporters
Published: 15.07.12, 12:42
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1. One for all, all for one
Bad Ased Jew ,   United States   (07.15.12)
that's the only way service to Israel can be successful.
2. In the Tora boys are called to serve
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (07.15.12)
not before they reach 20 years. Israel being a Jewish State,the Tora should be our role model.
3. Thats logic turned on its head
Tim ,   Brighton   (07.15.12)
Its NO UNIVERSAL DRAFT WILL BACKFIRE..not the other way around
4. Netanyahu cares only for himself and his power
Al   (07.15.12)
A two time loser PM. He fooled you once shame on him, he fooled you twice..shame on you. The people of Israel ought to hang thei heads in shame for having elected such a tool.
5. BB afraid of the harideem
Haim ,   TA   (07.15.12)
No balls what so ever, draft the parasites and be done with it. Enough is enough , those harideem who have a problem with that are free to leave the country. In fact im sure we can all chip in and help them with the air fair to Tehran.
6. Bibi is about economics for richs...
Keren ,   IL-BR   (07.15.12)
...exactly in the same way religious parties are. They are in government to preserve the interests of a certain group and not the interests of Israel. If religious parties in the Knesset are there about money and about lobbying for money,I am in favor that they must be kicked out. Religion can not be used as the name for dirty politics. Or religious representants in Knesset are genuinaly religious or they must be kicked out.
7. Didn't backfire for seculars - round 'em up and IN THEY GO!!
Talula ,   Israel   (07.15.12)
Or, they shouldn't be allowed to even half a Shekel in allowances, NOTHING!
8. #2 - Could you ask the Torah to help us out in war times?
Talula ,   Israel   (07.15.12)
Thought not. Get REAL!
9. Kadima should immediately leave the Koalition
Mira ,   Vienna   (07.15.12)
and provoke elections! this is an incredible and unsustainable situation that those parasites continue to blackmail the country and put an ugly fame on the IDF let alone endangering it! But I suppose Mofez will be too power-loving for that drastic step! Shame on all the Israeli politicians!
10. Dear PM you do not seem to understand
Sagi   (07.15.12)
the citizens of this country. They will not accept a compromise. Get your act together and wake up to reality. They either become normal people and citizens or they go elsewhere. The writing is on the wall but you do not seem to see it.
11. Ditch the religious parties keep Mofaz
zionist forever   (07.15.12)
The religious parties are going to cost Bibi the election if he doesn't ditch them now. The problem with changing the Tal Law for the most part is not the haredi themselves except for some of the more radical sects who give all of them a bad name the problem is the religious parties. If Bibi can ditch the religious parties he can change the Tal Law. If he ditches the nationalists he can also kill the Levy Report which if implemented will see us having to grant citizenship to millions of arabs from Judea & Samaria. If he gets them he can still form a slim coalition with Kadima & Liberman if he can keep him on side. Mofaz needs this coalition because he needs time to make Kadima electable. Bibi needs time because if he calls an election without doing anything about the Tal Law Lapid & Shelly Y will tear him to pieces make him look like a haredi stooge. Add that to the social justice protests and Bibi is history. Time to start playing smart politics forget the big coalition and get a workable one and thats Mofaz, Liberman & Barak. Not ideal but better than losing an early election.
12. No.1
Ram ,   London   (07.15.12)
The PM is being logical. It has to be a gradual process whereby more and more haredim will be drafted. The Haredim are in no way mentally or phisically suited for the foreces at the moment. At least not many of them. If a plan is put into action whereby a growing quota is aimed for, within a few years they will be ready to be drafted. In any case, in the beginning one has also to see how the IDF will manage with such new and of unknown potential recruits. Of course, in principle, every Israeli should be expected to serve the country.
13. Bibi
Mordechai ,   Beit Shemesh   (07.15.12)
What is so special about Haridi youth that they cannot like all others be drafted at 18? please explain. if the answer is the Haridim don't want/like it they can leave, tomorrow. We will be far better without them. Bibi if you don't enact universal draft for all at 18 you will lose the next election. period! the country is sick and tired of your pandering to the Haridim who only take and give nothing in return, how would you like it if everyone was to say i will only enlist when the Haridim do, there will be no IDF.
14. Haredim youth riding on my son's back
Mike ,   Israel   (07.15.12)
Yes Bibi, make life easy for the Haredim boys! My son went into the Army at the age of 18 and Haredim boys have the freedom to stay at home and enjoy life. They are all riding on the backs of young men like my son who are carrying the burden. Yet as the Prime Minister of this country, you find no problem with this inequality. Wait until your own boys have to join the Army!!
15. So Ora, the Tora holds back for 2 years
Mike ,   Israel   (07.15.12)
The Haredim boys get two extra years of freedom while other boys are 2/3rds though their army service. Tell me, what makes the Haredim feel superior and advantaged?
16. The Prime Minister is correct
Chaya ,   Bat Yam   (07.15.12)
Eighteen=year-old Hareidi boys are babies....they know nothing about the world. Throwing them into the army at th at age will cause a lot of trauma. Let them reach some maturity and take them when they reach 21 or 22. They will be more mature and able to deal with the stresses of army life.
17. Torah asks for service starting at age 20....
Frank ,   Israel   (07.15.12)
Let them study Totah from 18-20 and then serve... What's the big deal? And seculars must study Torah for one year after they finish their 2 year service - How can we be a Jewish nation if the majority don't know anything about Torah or the history of Judaism? Want a strong nation? THIS is the way to do it.
18. Why now?
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (07.15.12)
The basics of Jewish culture (kashrut. marriage, circumcision) are under attack everywhere in the world, and the legitimacy of Israel's existence is being called into question. Israel is surrounded by Hezbollah, Hamas and Fatah, never so heavily armed and all three existing solely to destroy Israel and the Jews. Syria or Iran may soon find it advantageous to attack Israel with gas weapons. The world economy is very fragile, weakening Israel's economy also. Now the question. The bloated IDF needs fewer soldiers, not more: there is no need for a Haredi draft that will divide Israeli society, weaken the IDF, and cost money that can better be used to strengthen the economy. Why now, when Israel is fast approaching a very dangerous situation, did the High Court choose to cancel the Tal Law? They could have done it years ago, or waited until the situation stabilized.
19. All are equal
Dan ,   KS   (07.15.12)
The Charidim who study Torah are no different from the National Religious who study chemistry or physics. All need to be drafted at 18 and those who get married will get some time off and later when the first born is born, will again have time off. But all should be equal and it should not matter what one wears to have the time off or to be drafted.
20. How strange the difference
Raptor   (07.15.12)
between Islam and Judaism. The more deeply religious one becomes in Islam the deeper the commitment to holy war in the name of god, while in Judaism the deepening of religious belief weakens the notion of war,struggle and combat, even when it is a matter of life and death.
21. all or nothing is a basic mistake
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (07.15.12)
To either declare we must draft all Charedim is a mistake just as exempting all Charedim is a mistake. Slowly the army must make provisions for the ultra-Orthodox. It needs to provide not only better kashrut, but also attend to the needs of these highly intelligent men who do not want to mix with non religious and even promiscuous women soldiers. (Been there, seen it!) Slowly the army will work out better programs that include Torah learning and job skills that can be used after the army. More than the calf wants to suckle, the cow wants to give its milk. We need the charadim, the charadim (with the exception of the nuts in Meah Shariim) want to come into the Israeli society. Taking extreme sides only causes problems. Slowly the integration into Israeli life will come into being a reality.
22. #2 Ora
Mendy ,   Kfar Chabad   (07.15.12)
boys over 20 were called to serve in the Torah ONLY during times of war. The Torah community serves 24/7 through Torah study, prayer, Yad Sarah, Yad Eliezer, Magen David Adom and other chesed organization. Perhaps the draft dodgers from Tel Aviv and the chiloni sector should be drafted to study Torah while the Hareidim are in the IDF? Why should the Hareidim bear the whole burden of Torah, Tefilah and Chesed??????? Perhaps the chilonim should stand on the street corners getting Jews to put on tefillin and light shabbos candles??????? Perhaps the chilonim should be working in the soup kitchens and delivering meals to the needy???????
23. #4 don't fall in the trap
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (07.15.12)
Al, you are falling into a trap. When the Leftists wanted to be in government to attack the Zionists they had no problem with the draft exemption and gave endless funds to the Haredim. If the Netanyahu government fell tomorrow, the Leftists would miraculously support anything the Haredim wanted to seize power. There are far better reasons to curse Netanyahu.
24. PM sides with Haredim
Beneli ,   Ramat HasharonIsrael   (07.15.12)
Mr. Bibi, when are you going to become a statesman and leave cheap politics! It is clear all you care for is not the Haredim, but their votes. Aren't you ashamed to risk the countries future only to achieve your personal goals, which are only to survive in office? History won't even name a kiosk in your name!
25. 8 Talula It is the strategy,and the ..
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (07.15.12)
quality of the soldiers which win the wars,and not the quantity.
26. There are in Israel trully religious...
Keren ,   IL-BR   (07.15.12)
...who go to army,who are not a burden for the country and who wish progress for the whole of it. These " religious" wearing black are not like that.They don´t care if others die;they care to have garanties that the business system they have mounted is sustained.That´s all! They oblige their " clients" to follow an almost stupid system of halachot while keeping them almost slaves of such system.But the worst is that they do that in the name of G-d and THAT´S filthy!
27. #22 Kol Hakavod Mendi!
Keren ,   IL-BR   (07.15.12)
But what impedes you and Israeli Arabs to perform your duty with solidarity with other Jews in Israel? There is a whole sector of religious Jews in Israel who go to the army and go to Yeshiva and study and practice Torah. Why do you want to be different? In what your arms and legs and heart and even soul are better than of other Jews?
28. we will get a rushed botch job that needs changing later
zionist forever   (07.15.12)
Raise the age which they must serve to about 20-21, give these boys a little time to experience the real world and to get in some yeshiva time. As long as they do the service should it matter what age they are drafted at? Seculars will go into the army at 18 come out 21 and go to university. Haredi can go to yeshiva at 18 and about 21 go into the army, all that changes is which way around they do their service. This also does have to be a gradual process and can't be done overnight because you cannot practically draft thousands of haredi overnight. The army itself needs time to prepare, its a process that will take many years which won't satisfy the haredi bashing secular wlite who want it done yesterday but its at lest not rushing things. We should also offer a practical civilian service open to haredi who don't feel the army is for them and for arabs who we don't want in the army but we do want them to do national service. Lets just take is slow and find a compromise we can all live with or else we will end up with a system that doesn't work ad at some point in future another government is going to have to change the laws all over.
29. The Haredim object to co-ed IDF service, so have separate
(07.15.12)
male and female militaries or put the women into National Service or have separate religious units.
30. 15 Mike I would give the choice..
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (07.15.12)
to all young people to begin their service at 18 or 20.I think most would choose at 18.
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