Ultra-Orthodox Object to Draft Excluding Arabs
The Justice Ministry is working on an arrangement for drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews, but not Arabs – angering ultra-Orthodox MKs who fear that this would prevent the formation of a Haredi-Arab coalition on draft deferrals.
The Tal Law, which deferred military service for yeshiva students, was recently declared unconstitutional by the High Court of Justice.
Deputy Attorney General Mike Balas has written to the Knesset committee tasked with finding alternatives to the law that “for those who are not ultra-Orthodox, there is no legal obligation to offer an alternative arrangement to the existing one.”
Haaretz has obtained a copy of the document, which outlines the legal aspects of the new arrangement and analyzes the High Court decision revoking the Tal Law. The Haredi members of the committee, headed by MK Yohanan Plesner (Kadima ), were furious to learn that the new arrangement would not apply to Arabs and religious, non-ultra-Orthodox women.
For more, go toHaaretz.com
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO