| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Knesset approves extension of Tal Law (Orthodox Military Exemption) by another 5 years |
| 2007-07-23 |
| The Knesset approved Wednesday a bill to extend Tal Law by five years, legalizing the exemption of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from service in the Israel Defense forces. The move passed with a majority of 56 to nine votes. It was supported by the coalition and the right-wing factions, and opposed by members of Meretz and Labor. MK Ran Cohen of Meretz announced he would appeal the law in the High Court in order to prevent its implementation. MK Cohen called the law unconstitutional, saying it endorsed en masse evasion of responsibility, and that five years was an unreasonably long period to extend it. "Enough was said in the High Court's previous ruling on the law to reject it this time," he said, referring to the May 2006 High Court decision on the law. The ruling stated that the law "gravely affronted the honor of the masses who are required by law to complete military service." At that time, the High Court ruled that if significant improvement in the implementation of the law was not effected, the court was concerned it would become unconstitutional. MK Haim Oron of Meretz said that exemption from the IDF had reached monstrous proportions. Chairman of the Knesset Committee on Legislation, Law and Justice, Tzachi Hanegbi said that even in five years there was a serious concern that the law would not be implemented correctly, meaning that very few Haredi youths would complete national service as required. He added that the committee had decided to strictly supervise the law's implementation, and had demanded periodic reports on it from the government. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #3 Neturei Karta is only a small part of the Orthodox in Israel, Shieldwolf. But the rest of them are selfish about letting others defend them. They're also afraid of letting their women be 'corrupted' by serving in the military too. In fact, many of them don't have the general education levels to do well in the IDF. No, 2x4, this is not very smart. This is what happens when one has a deadlocked Parliamentary system of government. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2007-07-23 08:14 |
| #2 Personally, I would NOT count on the Ultra Orthodox to do anything other than stand around and criticize. They have stated that the nation of Israel is illegitimate since it is formally secular, they refuse to serve in the military, and they tend to have troubles with all of their neighbors, including the highly armed settler types. I would count the Ultra Orthodox in Israel in the same category as the Code Pink in the US : whining, bitching, and complaining is their forte - and nothing else. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-07-23 04:24 |
| #1 Well, I am not sure that is very smart. The war is coming, and every hand will count. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-07-23 00:25 |