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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israeli government approves ultra-Orthodox conscription |
| 2013-07-08 |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet approved Sunday a draft bill that would enlist more ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, dpa reported. Fourteen ministers voted in favour of the legislation, which now has to pass three readings in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, before becoming law. Four ministers abstained and none voted against. Finance Minister Yair Lapid called it "a historic day." "After 65 years, we finally end this distortion. We are all very excited," he told reporters. The vast majority of ultra-Orthodox Jews have been exempt from military service since Israel's founding in 1948, much to the anger of many secular Jews. Lapid made the issue of "equal sharing of the burden" a focal point of his campaigning ahead of January elections, which saw his newly founded centrist Yesh Atid party emerge as the second largest in the Knesset. The bill requires ultra-Orthodox Jews to enlist by the age of 21, with the exception of some 1,800 a year who can continue studying the Torah instead. Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers spoke of a "sad day" for Judaism. Many strictly religious Jews believe that by studying the Torah and serving God they are defending Israelis. But others criticize the bill for not going far enough in upholding social equality, as secular Israelis must enlist at the age of 18 with few exceptions. "We will make the change gradually, while taking into consideration the special needs of the ultra-Orthodox public," Netanyahu said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #11 Good one, Ship. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2013-07-08 19:44 |
| #10 Ebbang Uluque6305, presumably the rules of Deut 20 and 24 applied however, with respect to Deut 20, people would have to report for duty before they could get the exemption; with respect to Deut 24 (the newly married), he probably would not even have had to report for duty |
| Posted by: lord garth 2013-07-08 18:43 |
| #9 Not for people who came up with these monstrosities - they deserve this treatment. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2013-07-08 16:36 |
| #8 Another damn fine idea we should copy here in the states - can you imagine three readings of Obamacare or Amnesty? That is cruel and unusual punishment. But there are always exceptions to the Constitution, I guess.... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2013-07-08 15:13 |
| #7 Not for the band. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2013-07-08 13:00 |
| #6 Did they have exemptions when Joshua fought the battle of Jericho? |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-07-08 11:58 |
| #5 Another damn fine idea we should copy here in the states - can you imagine three readings of Obamacare or Amnesty? Well, now that you mention it...As long as those bills are they might still be reading. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-07-08 11:56 |
| #4 Is it so clever to recruit people who do not want to serve? |
| Posted by: BernardZ 2013-07-08 09:02 |
| #3 which now has to pass three readings in the Knesset Another damn fine idea we should copy here in the states - can you imagine three readings of Obamacare or Amnesty? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2013-07-08 07:54 |
| #2 some Haredim have already entered the IDF voluntarily. word is that they have made decent soldiers, however, they require remedial training to handle basic technical tasks and they are unfit for some of the high tech stuff |
| Posted by: lord garth 2013-07-08 07:04 |
| #1 It goes without saying, there is only one way to stop being permanent Diaspora. That is, Fight and keep Israel now and forever. |
| Posted by: newc 2013-07-08 01:02 |