Ultra-Orthodox Parties Demand Draft Exemption, End to Deserter Arrests for Government Support
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding a temporary halt to mandatory military service and an end to arrests for draft dodgers as a condition for supporting the "Change Bloc" government. They seek legislative guarantees for this arrangement, referencing a past government decision. Negotiations are ongoing but reportedly preliminary, with Haredi parties emphasizing that government formation depends on reaching an agreement on their conscription demands.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox parties demand draft exemption and end to deserter arrests for government support.
- They seek legislative guarantees for a temporary order halting conscription for Haredim.
- The demand references a precedent from the outgoing Netanyahu government's Decision 682.
- Sources dispute reports of finalized agreements, calling negotiations preliminary.
- United Torah Judaism states government formation hinges on draft arrangement negotiations.
Ultra-Orthodox parties are setting clear conditions for their support of the "Change Bloc" government, demanding a temporary order to halt mandatory military conscription for the Haredi community and cancel arrests and sanctions against draft dodgers. They seek guarantees that this arrangement will be approved by the Legal Advisor to the Government and potentially the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's legal advisor.
The Haredi parties are looking to a precedent set by the outgoing Netanyahu government's Decision 682, which temporarily halted conscription proceedings for yeshiva students pending new legislation. However, the current demand differs as the previous law was not fully repealed. Therefore, the Haredi parties likely require Knesset legislation rather than just a government decision.
Sources within the Haredi community and close to Avigdor Lieberman's party dispute reports of a finalized agreement, stating that negotiations are preliminary.
United Torah Judaism clarified that they will not prevent or support a minority government with Arab parties without concessions. Party officials indicated that government formation would only proceed subject to negotiations on terms for a Haredi conscription arrangement.
