Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Sunday to extend military service to include ultra-orthodox Jews and Israeli Arabs, under public pressure and the threat of a government crisis, AFP informs. “After 64 years of the problem not being treated fairly, we are beginning to historic process, a huge increase in participation of ultra-orthodox Jews and Arabs to the military service,” said Netanyahu at the opening of the Council of Ministers. “We will make a historic change in the distribution of burden of military service, preserving national unity,” added the Premier.
On Sunday morning, Likud party (right) of Prime Minister Netanyahu approved the recommendations of a commission to draft the ultra-orthodox Jews, ending a week of political swings. The commission recommended a mandatory service, military or civilian, for all Israelis, with measures stimulating those who choose military service and penalties for those who refuse this service. “Likud discussed this morning and unanimously adopted the principles set by the commission,” said party spokesman, Noda Katz.
Netanyahu’s press office announced an agreement with Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, leader of the centrist Kadima party, for the establishment of another commission, aimed at drawing in the coming days a new law regarding the military service for all. Last week Mofaz threatened to leave the coalition government if the service circumvention, military or civilian, will be maintained for ultra-orthodox Jews and Israeli Arabs. The current law on military draft, declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, will be anyway changed before July 31. According to the media in Israel, a new law will be considered in first reading by parliament early next week.
An overwhelming majority of the Israeli population requested the change of the law for military service. In Israel, military service lasts for three years for men and 2 years for women. Thousands of Israelis attended a rally in Tel Aviv, asking the government to abandon its policy of exempting the ultra-orthodox men from compulsory military service. The law exempting ultra-orthodox Jews from military service, adopted in 2002, is allowing them instead to pursue religious studies. Protesters argue that the law is unjust.
“Politicians gave up to the pressure coming from ultra-orthodox politicians who did not perform military service, but always have a say about whether or not we go to war,” said one of the protesters. Most Israeli men must undertake two to three years of military service, from the age of 18 years. The law providing for exemption from compulsory military service also aims at Arab Israelis. The Supreme Court of Israel ruled that the law is illegal and set a deadline for the Israeli government in August to change the law. Under pressure from ultra-orthodox members of his coalition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to dissolve the commission charged with changing the law.
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