Yisrael Beiteinu: Will vote against haredi draft bill if Arabs not included
Internal security minister laudes, however, 'important amendments,' including sanctioning draft dodgers
The Yisrael Beiteinu party announced Thursday it will not support the haredi recruitment bill if the Equal Share of the Burden Committee does not require that Arab citizens enlist as well.
Related stories:
- Haredi protesters to be prosecuted
- Next generation of ultra-Orthodox recruits
- IDF plan threat to national security
The party representative to the committee, Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich, said "Though the bill addresses important amendments, on which Yisrael Beiteinu insisted, including the setting of a longer service period for Hesder soldiers and sanctioning draft dodgers, the law still lacks key components – both in terms of budget and in terms of the service of religious minorities, who should be enlisted as soon as the five-year transition period is over.
As a result, Aharonovich stressed, "If the proposal is voted on Sunday without introducing the changes, I intend to vote against the bill, as will all ministers from our party.”
The committee, headed by Minister Yaakov Peri of Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party, suggested drafting some 65% of haredim at the age of 21 following a three-year transition period. The proposal calls, among other things for economic sanctions against yeshivas whose students evade IDF service.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
