Ultra-Orthodox MKs Propose Bills to Exempt Yeshiva Students from IDF Service
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Ultra-Orthodox Knesset members have introduced bills to exempt yeshiva students from mandatory IDF service, proposing deferments and full exemption at age 26. One bill seeks to halt arrests and ongoing prosecutions of draft dodgers. Another bill proposes a temporary halt to detentions for those scheduled to report for duty starting July 1, 2023. The "Change Bloc" has not yet commented, while Avigdor Lieberman previously called for a "normative conscription law."
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox MKs proposed bills to exempt yeshiva students from IDF military service.
- One bill allows deferments for students studying 45 hours weekly, with full exemption at age 26.
- Proposed legislation aims to halt arrests and ongoing prosecutions of draft dodgers.
- A separate bill seeks to temporarily stop detentions of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers from July 1, 2023.
- The "Change Bloc" has not yet responded to the ultra-Orthodox legislative initiatives.
- Avigdor Lieberman previously advocated for a "normative conscription law" approved by the High Court.
Following the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset, ultra-Orthodox lawmakers have introduced a series of bills aimed at halting arrests of draft dodgers and legally regulating the status of yeshiva students. One bill, proposed by Knesset Member Meir Porush of the United Torah Judaism party, would allow the Defense Minister to grant military service deferments to any student of a yeshiva or kollel (a religious study institution for married ultra-Orthodox men) who dedicates at least 45 hours per week to study, or 40 hours after marriage. These deferments would be for one year, with full exemption granted upon reaching the age of 26. Porush's bill also proposes to exempt yeshiva students from criminal liability for violations committed before the law's enactment and to halt ongoing prosecutions. Concurrently, MKs Meir Porush and Eliyahu Stark presented a bill to temporarily halt the detention of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers scheduled to report to recruitment centers from July 1, 2023. This bill states that "all measures of detention, interrogation, and other actions stipulated by the Compulsory Service Law will be halted concerning yeshiva students who dedicate 40-45 hours per week to study." The "Change Bloc" has not yet responded to these legislative initiatives. Previously, at a Yisrael Beiteinu faction meeting, party head Avigdor Lieberman stated that the new government would seek to pass "not a maximalist, but a normative conscription law that will be approved by the High Court of Justice."
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