Israeli Political Bloc Considers Year-Long Freeze on Haredi Draft Enforcement
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
A bloc of Israeli parties is considering a proposal to freeze Haredi military draft enforcement for up to a year to gain support for a new government. The plan aims to allow time for a new conscription law acceptable to Haredi parties and the Supreme Court. Key Haredi demands include education funding and maintaining the status quo on religion. Challenges include legal objections from the IDF and Supreme Court, and Prime Minister Netanyahu's efforts to block the move.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli political bloc considers freezing Haredi draft enforcement for up to one year.
- The plan aims to secure support from Haredi parties for a new government.
- Haredi demands include education funding and maintaining the status quo on religion.
- The IDF and Supreme Court have previously opposed unilateral freezes on draft enforcement.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly working to thwart the proposed deal.
A bloc of parties aiming to form a new Israeli government, led by Gadi Eisenkot and with the support of Avigdor Lieberman, is reportedly considering a proposal to appease the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties. The plan involves a commitment to freeze the enforcement of military conscription and arrests of draft dodgers for up to one year after the new government is established. This interim period would be used to formulate a mutually agreeable conscription law, potentially based on a revised version of Lieberman's 2018 proposal.
This initiative comes as United Torah Judaism Chairman MK Yaakov Asher and Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman met to discuss the sensitive issue of the Haredi draft and explore a consensus. Asher has outlined three non-negotiable conditions for any potential agreement: a conscription law and the status of yeshiva students, funding for Haredi education without mandatory core curriculum studies, and maintaining the status quo on religion and state matters.
Lieberman, however, has insisted on a conscription law that would satisfy both the prominent Rabbi Dov Lando and the Supreme Court. A comparison of Lieberman's 2018 proposal with the "Bismuth Law" from the previous Knesset suggests Lieberman's plan is more amenable to the Haredi community.
Challenges remain, as Haredi parties are wary of relying solely on promises, given that the Supreme Court has previously ruled against government authority to unilaterally freeze draft enforcement. The IDF also opposes a broad freeze on arrests, viewing them as essential for enforcing the security service law. Furthermore, any lenient conscription law is expected to face opposition from the Knesset's legal advisor, the Constitution Committee, and the Supreme Court.
Despite these hurdles, sources within the "change bloc" believe that a year of respite from enforcement would be a significant achievement for Asher, and that the Haredim have no better alternative. The assumption is that Arieh Deri's Shas party will remain outside this government. If only United Torah Judaism cooperates, the government would also require the abstention of Ra'am, a scenario Lieberman has stated he would oppose, even while seeking to oust Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, MK Meir Porush has introduced two bills related to yeshiva students: one proposing a permanent deferment until age 26, and another freezing arrests for a year, with MK Elimelk Stark joining as a sponsor. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly working to thwart this move, warning United Torah Judaism that they would not be able to topple the government if their demands are not met after its formation, due to security provided by Arab parties.
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