Coalition quashes bill meant to curb religious draft dodging
House votes 63 to 29 against a motion to toughen terms under which girls can get religious exemption from IDF service
The Knesset plenum on Wednesday rejected a private bill meant to reduce the number of girls who evade military service by falsely declaring they are religious.
The bill, brought before the House by MK Israel Hasson (Kadima), was quashed 63 to 29. Kadima was quick to blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "cowering before coalitional considerations."
The bill called for girls asking to be exempt from serving on religious grounds to provide proof that they had attended a religious school for a period of no less than three years, prior to filing for an exemption.
In cases where a girl cannot supply the necessary documentation, the military will retain discretions as to whether or not her declaration is valid.
Hasson, a former Shin Bet officer, warned Wednesday that if religious dodging is not curbed now, "In five years it will span 60% of all eligible youth." Men asking for a religious exemption from service are required to provide documentation to that effect, and according to Hasson, he simply wanted to match the requirement.
Netanyahu, said Kadima after the vote, "chose to cower before coalitional considerations and legitimize draft dodging... This is shameful surrender to such elements and spitting in the face of the public shouldering the burden.
"This is sanctioning mass draft dodging courtesy of the defense minister, Labor and Yisrael Beiteinu. Netanyahu chose to serve his ultra-Orthodox partners and ensure his political survival at the expense of national interests."
