Israeli gov advances bill to protect Yeshiva's military exemptions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
25 Jul 2023 13:43

The Netanyahu government is proposing a bill in Israel to sustain military exemption privileges for Yeshiva students.

Ultra-Orthodox settlers stand along a street corner in occupied Al-Quds, September 27, 2020 (AFP)

Israeli PM Netanyahu's government is advancing a new bill aiming to sustain the Yeshiva students' military exemption privileges, amid mounting escalation between the Netanyahu government and the opposition.

The deteriorating political and social situation is primarily due to the judicial reforms the Netanyahu Government is putting forward, and also due to the privileges the incumbent government is granting to the Ultra-Orthodox sects in "Israel", according to the opposition, such as the bill in question.

The presented bill comes only one day following the Israeli Knesset passing, in a final vote, a bill to introduce limitations on the "reasonableness law", which prompts the government to sideline the Supreme Court's power to veto or review decisions made by the ruling echelon.

The bill affirms the importance of Torah studies to the fabric of the Israeli settler society.

"[Israel] finds it of utmost importance to encourage the study of Torah and the students of the Torah [the Yeshiva]," the bill reads.

The purpose of the bill is to affirm their justifiable privilege of military exemptions in appreciation of their dedication to Torah studies: which the bill describes as the cornerstone of the settler society.

"Even in times of crisis, the study of the Torah was [our] refuge."

Citing the story of Rabbi Yohanan, the bill explains that Torah studies, alongside violent militarization, is the basic premise for the continued existence of the Jewish people.

The Israeli government's affirmation of the Yeshiva's privilege of military exemption comes in light of increasing resignations by reservists and mass suspension of service by volunteers who have done so in protest against the government's judicial reform.

It was reported earlier this week, that the Israeli occupation Air Force is under shock, as 1,142 reservists, including 513 pilots, announced their intention to suspend their volunteering if the judicial overhaul was approved.

The phenomenon of reservists refusing to show up for service is expanding due to the judicial overhaul, with some pilots saying that "unless the plan is stopped, no attack will be carried out on Iran's nuclear facilities."