Conscription law could be end of government, warns Israeli minister
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The Israeli conscription law related to the Haredim not passing would lead to the dissolution of the government.
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Israeli lawmakers take a selfie with 'Justice' Minister Yariv Levin on the floor of the Knesset, occupied Al-Quds, occupied Palestine, July 24, 2023 (AP)
Israeli media outlets reported on Tuesday that a senior minister within the Israeli government has expressed "concern" regarding the reluctance of extremist parties to reach a compromise on the issue of mandatory military conscription. This issue revolves around the exemption of the Haredim from service.
Speaking to the Israeli Channel 7, the minister stated that "the conscription law could potentially destabilize the government if there isn't flexibility from the Haredim."
This comes after leaders of the Haredi factions conveyed a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicating that they would work toward the dissolution of the government if the conscription law is not approved at the start of the upcoming Knesset session.
Subsequently, Israeli media revealed that a senior figure within the Likud party, a key member of the ruling coalition, rejected the proposed conscription law.
Former Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz, as reported by Makan channel, commented that the coalition's proposed conscription law "could lead us into a serious conflict that would cast shadows over the army and the cohesion of the entire Israeli society."
The current proposed law lacks equality and his party is seeking an alternative plan to reach the broadest possible consensus, he said.
"Pushing the law forward alongside judicial changes is not feasible," Gantz underlined, acknowledging the widespread public opposition to the law. He noted that the governing coalition is aware of this opposition but is compelled to proceed due to agreements it had previously committed itself to.
In the midst of concerns about the potential role of these developments in toppling the government, Israeli sources have cautioned against the impact of the coalition's proposed revisions to the conscription law on the IOF's cohesion.
Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that the two paths suggested by Finance Minister Betsalel Smotrich and Security Minister Yoav Galant both emphasize "inequality among Israelis when it comes to bearing the burden of military service."
In a political analysis provided by Ariel Cohen, the paper highlighted that it's neither fair nor logical for one settler to be obliged to serve in the military while another is exempt solely due to belonging to a specific sect.
Meanwhile, Haaretz said the ruling coalition is plagued by concerns that modifications to the conscription law could lead to its dissolution, as these changes may enable the exemption of the Haredim from military service.
The newspaper also pointed out that the Supreme Court taking the decision to cancel the amendment could lead the Haredim parties to withdraw from the government, leading to its downfall.
Haredim, or Ultra-Orthodox, Knesset members ended late July's summer session without passing a law on conscription, which they had promised their constituents, Israeli media reported earlier.
According to Israeli media, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging to his allies to pass the compulsory conscription law before approving the annual budget, he refrained from doing so, with the coalition mainly focusing on judicial amendments, and the issue of conscription was not discussed.
Citing closed-door conversations published by a journalist on the Kikar Shabbat website, Shas party leader Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism party leader Isaac Goldknopf reject any further obstruction and demand a new conscription law before continuing to work on judicial amendments.
In those conversations, Deri and Goldknopf issued a warning saying, "If the government wants to proceed with legislation, it is linked to compulsory conscription."
"It is evident to Netanyahu that the conscription law will pass at the beginning of the winter session, but without the conscription law, this government will not survive," Deri said.
It was reported back in February that most of the religious strata of the Israeli settler community reject recruitment into the Israeli occupation army.
It is estimated that there are about 50,000 Haredi young adults in occupied Palestine who are eligible for military recruitment in the Israeli occupation army. However, only 1,200 have signed up as of 2019 statistics.
The Times of Israel reported that over 50% of eligible young Haredi men reaching the age of 18 do not enlist in the IOF, with most of them studying in religious schools during the conscription age.
Haredi Jews, on the other hand, reject these claims and argue that religious education serves as spiritual protection for "Israel".
The issue of Haredi recruitment has been a contentious topic in "Israel", amid calls that the Haredim should participate in military or civil service instead of enjoying near-complete exemption in accommodation of their religious studies.
