Israel Lawmakers Vote 67-1 To End Blanket Ultra-Orthodox Draft Exemption
Israel’s parliament on Wednesday approved a contentious law that abolishes blanket military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students, ending a tradition upheld since the state’s foundation.
Finalised after months of political wrangling and likely to spark ultra-Orthodox rage, the legislation will be implemented fully in 2017 and limit the annual number of ultra-Orthodox men excused from compulsory military service to 1,800 granted “gifted scholar” status.
The issue is at the heart of a raging national debate over “sharing the burden” of life in a country where most Jewish men and women are called up for military service when they turn 18.
Most ultra-Orthodox Jews, or “Haredim”, a Hebrew term meaning ‘those who tremble before God’, have been exempt from conscription.
Under the new law, the government will set an annual enlistment quota for ultra-Orthodox seminary students. If that quota - the 2017 target is 5,200 - is not met, conscription notices will be served to all but the 1,800 top scholars, with criminal penalties for any draft-dodging.
http://m.forward.com/articles/194309/israel-lawmakers-vote-67-1-to-end-blanket-ultra-or/
= new reply since forum marked as read
On the one hand, if you're going to have compulsory military service, it should be equal.
On the other hand, you shouldn't have compulsory military service.
