United Torah Judaism Demands Full Draft Exemption for Yeshiva Students
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
United Torah Judaism will not join any future coalition government without a full arrangement for yeshiva students' draft exemption. The party's firm stance, reported in 'Hamevasser', stems from recent enforcement actions against the Haredi public. UTJ demands legislation for full exemption, opposes coalition bills before the law passes, and will not accept government roles until it is enacted.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- United Torah Judaism demands full draft exemption for yeshiva students as a coalition prerequisite.
- The party will not join any future government without this arrangement and cessation of sanctions.
- UTJ's firm stance follows recent enforcement actions and arrests of yeshiva students.
- The party will block coalition bills until the draft exemption law is passed.
- UTJ representatives will refuse government roles until the law is enacted.
The United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party has declared that it will not join any future coalition government without a complete arrangement for yeshiva students, including full exemption from military service and the cessation of sanctions. This firm stance was reported in the newspaper 'Hamevasser' and comes even before the final results of the 26th Knesset elections are clear. The party emphasizes that the issue of draft exemption for Torah scholars is a non-negotiable prerequisite for joining any government, regardless of who is tasked with forming it.
The party attributes its resolute position to the recent difficult period experienced by the Haredi public, which included enforcement measures, arrests of yeshiva students, and economic sanctions. UTJ stated that this time they will not settle for vague promises about the future. An internal agreement between the Agudat Yisrael and Degel HaTorah factions within UTJ outlines three binding conditions for coalition negotiations.
Firstly, the party will push for legislation granting a full exemption from military service to any yeshiva student whose occupation is Torah study, while simultaneously preventing criminal or economic sanctions. Secondly, UTJ will refuse to support coalition bills proposed by a future government until the draft exemption law is enacted, with exceptions only for unusual laws explicitly approved by the 'Gedolei HaTorah' (great Torah scholars). Thirdly, UTJ representatives will not serve in ministerial, deputy ministerial, or Knesset committee chair positions until the law is actually passed.
