Ultra-Orthodox men protest outside the army recruitment office in Jerusalem, March 4, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Published March 25, 2024
Opposition leader urges ministers to ditch government if bill is advanced by ministers, as PM reportedly says coalition will collapse without its approval and he won’t give up on it
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to backtrack on parts of his proposed Haredi enlistment law on Monday following widespread public criticism, including from within his own coalition.
According to Hebrew-language news reports, the government decided to remove from the measure — which is expected to be brought to the cabinet on Tuesday — a clause raising the exemption age for yeshiva students to 35.
Channel 12 reported the decision to roll back the change came as a result of the warningfrom Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara that she would be unable to defend the proposed bill, and Finance Ministry figures showing the economy taking a hit of over NIS 100 billion ($27.5 billion) over the next decade if the army extended the time recruits must serve rather than draft Haredim into the military.
An ultra-Orthodox political source who spoke with Ynet said that a new version of the proposal containing provisions for financial sanctions — and possibly specific annual enlistment goals — was to be distributed to members of the cabinet Monday.
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SOURCE: www.thetimesofisrael.com
RELATED: Gantz issues ultimatum to Netanyahu: Will quit Israeli gov’t over IDF draft law
Published March 25, 2024
Gantz sends message to Netanyahu: “People will not tolerate it; I cannot be part of this emergency government if this law passes.”
War minister and National Unity party leader Benny Gantz announced on Sunday that he would quit the government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bill extending the exemption from IDF conscription for ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jews despite the current war passes in the Knesset.
“The people will not tolerate it, the Knesset will not be able to vote in favor of it, and my associates and I cannot be part of this emergency government if this law passes,” he said in his announcement.
