Jerusalem – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was expected to meet with Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz in continued attempts to resolve the differences between them on finding a replacement for the Tal Law, and mandating civilian and military service for all Israeli citizens.
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Ahead of Netanyahu’s meetings with Mofaz and other faction heads, Coalition chairman Ze’ev Elkin said that the differences between Kadima and Likud are not that great, saying that neither are opposed to imposing personal sanctions on those who do not perform national or military service.
Speaking with Israel Radio Thursday morning, Elkin asserted that a solution could be found if Netanyahu makes clear to the ultra-Orthodox (haredi) political leadership that if no solution is found by August 1, Israel’s military draft law will be applied equally across all sectors.
Elkin lamenting the lack of progress on the matter, calling it “a shame that instead of addressing the content, we’ve been dealing with the process,” discussing committees instead of sitting down and writing a law.
Discussing a service mandate for Israeli Arabs, the coalition chairman admitted that due to the regional conflicts Israel is engulfed in, it is understandable not to ask Israeli Arabs to service in the military. “But the moment you start talking about civilian service, work in health education and welfare… why not?”
“Why does an Arab youth need to go study at university at the age of 18 and a Jewish youngster needs to go work in a hospital?”
“There’s no reason why a haredi (youth) can do civilian service and an Arab can’t,” he repeated.
Perhaps it might be an idea to give incentives for housing and education for all young people who serve! 0 % loans for housing and school for active service members. If one is in a “kravi” unit – he should get special discounts and benefits when his service is complete. He should get preference in jobs, schools, and housing. Politically, it would be hard to argue with that. And for those serving so valiantly, it would be a sign that their sacrifices are really valued by the government and the people.
Shoitem!! There’s a famous speech fro harav shabsai yudelevitch zt”l about this he once was invited after the 6 day war to speak to soldiers and the general who introduced him made a disparaging remark about yeshiva students service during the war rav yudelevitch got up and said “u say the bochrim didn’t help out ? As your all aware the army was expecting tens of thousands of casualties they set aside land in every city for burial who was going to bury all the bodies during war? The yeshiva bochurim but hashem decided it was more important for them to stay in bais medrash and learn so he ended the war in 6 days with very few casualties! So he concluded who did more the bochurim or the soldiers ?????
Make peace with the arabs, give them back what your stole from them in 1967 & they will be happy & no fights will be & no IDF needed