Last update - 00:00 04/06/2007
Peretz drops plan to end hesder yeshiva segregated IDF units
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent
Hesder yeshiva students will continue to serve in segregated units within the Israel Defense Forces Paratrooper Corps. and Golani Brigade, Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided on Tuesday, despite the dissenting opinion of army head of manpower Major General Eliezer Stern.
Peretz told Stern he opposed his proposal to disperse graduates of the hesder yeshiva program that combines army service with torah studies within mixed units.
"The [hesder] arrangements are not softer and do not allow slacking, and I support them," he said.
Hesder yeshiva students serve in separate units within the armed forces for periods of between 16 to 24 months, while regular male army recruits are required to serve at least 36 months. However, the number of hesder recruits who serve in combat units is much higher than average.
MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) said "Stern's decision is a big injustice to hesder yeshiva students who wish to serve as combat soldiers."
During a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Orlev said "hesder students have always been considered the best soldiers with the highest motivation. It is unacceptable that they should not be allowed to serve the IDF and country in quality units like Golani and the paratroopers."