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Yeshiva students waiving IDF service on the rise By Shahar Ilan Yeshiva students deferring the military draft make up one out of every seven Jewish 18-year-olds. The percentage of these youths waiving their Israel Defense Forces service rose to 14 percent in 2007, up from 12.6 percent in 2006, according to figures presented to the High Court of Justice by the state in its response to a challenge to the Tal Law, which governs such deferrals. The IDF stated in its response to the court that numerous service tracks are open to the ultra-Orthodox, and the army also said it will open a special track in intelligence for ultra-Orthodox recruits with families. It will also open a similar track in the logistics branch. Advertisement In November 2006, the High Court ruled that the Tal Law violated the principle of equality, since, among other things, its implementation was a failure, which led to almost no increase in the enlistment of the ultra-Orthodox. In addition, no alternative public service track was established. Nevertheless, the High Court refrained from cancelling the Tal Law since its goals were deemed proper, and the court wanted to allow the state time to make significant changes to the law. The Tal Law must be extended every few years. In July 2007, the Knesset extended it for the maximum period of five years. Four new High Court petitions against the law have been submitted, by MK Ran Cohen (Meretz), former minister Avraham Poraz, attorney Yehuda Resler and the Movement for Quality Government. The state, represented by senior assistant state prosecutor Avi Licht, told the court that significant changes in the implementation of the law had already begun. He noted that nearly 500 ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students are already doing alternative civilian service. "Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox are being drafted each year," Licht said, though he failed to offer any details. However, information provided by the IDF shows that in 2000 9.5 percent of 18-year-olds received a deferment. In 2007, the number had risen to 14 percent. Licht noted that 2.5 percent of those deferments were members of the national religious camp who study for a short time and then join the army. Lack of civilian service option In 2008, 53,000 yeshiva students between the ages of 18 and 41 had deferred status, up from 30,400 in 1999. The number of students in hesder yeshivas (combining military service with yeshiva studies) is growing at average rate of approximately 2,500 students per year. One of the major reasons for the failure of the Tal Law was the Finance Ministry's failure to foster the establishment of a civilian service alternative. The establishment of the service administration a year ago, following High Court petitions, led to 470 ultra-Orthodox men getting involved, more than double than before the administration's creation. Licht told the court that 194 men joined the ultra-Orthodox unit of the Nahal Brigade in 2008, although it is not clear how many of them are in the national religious camp. He also said about 150 ultra-Orthodox men were serving in special units in the air force. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Crisis in question The Arab League slams Livni's remark 'there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza' Acts of Terror In their waning days in power, Bush and Rice work to try organize a truce.

Read & React Bush: Hamas attacks on Israel are an 'act of terror' Responses: 71 Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff: Now IDF is getting personal with Hamas Responses: 76 Yossi Sarid: If you (or I) were Palestinian Responses: 128 Anshel Pfeffer: Right and Left, Diaspora Jews more critical of Israel than ever Responses: 80 Bradley Burston: To win in Gaza, Israel only has to survive Responses: 50 More Headlines 01:36 Israel launches a ground operation in the Gaza Strip 01:36 WATCH: Israeli troops launch ground incursion in Gaza Strip 22:23 Barak: Gaza invasion won't be short, and it won't be easy 22:39 Hamas: Gaza will become graveyard for Israeli troops 00:03 Israel okays call-up of tens of thousands of IDF reservists 00:27 Hezbollah urges Hamas to 'kill as many Israeli soldiers as they can' during Gaza op 22:41 EU presidency: Israel ground op in Gaza 'defensive not offensive' 00:53 Tens of thousands rally across Europe against Israel's Gaza offensive 00:56 Thousands rally in Tel Aviv for and against Israel's Gaza op 01:17 UN Security Council to hold emergency session on Israel's Gaza operation 20:14 Netivot home collapses as Hamas intensifies rocket fire from Gaza 13:32 ANALYSIS / Are air strikes enough, or is a ground op needed in Gaza? 17:47 Arab League slams Livni remark 'there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza' 14:04 Bush calls Hamas attacks 'acts of terror', says working on truce 10:41 ANALYSIS / Israel must prepare to turn its military might from Gaza to Iran 09:42 UN chief wants international monitors for Gaza cease-fire 18:59 Gaza 2009 - To win, all Israel has to do is survive 18:45 Top Iran official holds talks with Syria on Gaza violence Previous Editions Select Day 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec

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