Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., January 11, 2008 Shvat 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:15 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

MK Eitan Cabel. (Alon Ron) Last update - 10:47 11/01/2008 MK proposes bill to strip draft-dodgers of right to vote By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Eitan Cabel, Ehud Barak, IDF  A new bill to be presented to the Knesset proposes a litany of punishments, including loss of the right to vote or hold a driver's license from citizens who do not serve in the army or perform civil service. The bill, authored by Labor-party MK Eitan Cabel (Labor) in collaboration with the Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces, will require all citizens, including Arab Israelis, the religious, and those found unfit for military service to at least perform some form of civil service, or face potentially harsh consequences. Opponents of the bill have called it discriminatory and draconian, while Cabel has said it is the only way to rein in the growing phenomenon of draft-dodging in Israel and to encourage military and national service. Advertisement The bill will also include guidelines for punishing refusal to serve. Potential punishments discussed have included loss of the right to vote, to receive a driver's license, or to study medicine or psychology. "The goal of this law is to make civil service a clear and defined requirement for any youth who does not serve in the military," Cabel stated. "The proposal is very simple: Whoever is not willing to help carry the burden of securing the state of Israel must help protect the forests, or help senior citizens cross the street," Cabel added. Cabel added that it his intention for the punishment entailed in the bill to be applied in only the most extreme cases. Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the human resources branch of the IDF cooperated in the writing of the bill. The Defense Ministry and the army have become worried by draft-dodging as the percentage of youths who perform no service whatsoever rose to 28% of men and 44% of women in the last year. The largest single group of young Israelis who avoid conscription is comprised of women who claim exemptions on the grounds of being religious. This group makes up 35 percent of all women eligible for the draft. IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Ehud Barak addressed rising draft-dodging in statements made in January, with Ashkenazi saying that serving soldiers must make "shirkers blush with shame." At a memorial assembly for Haaretz defense editor Ze'ev Schiff in January, Barak said Israel must return to the days when draft dodgers were publicly scorned as carrying "the mark of Cain." Related articles: IDF: Full-time Torah studies, draft-dodging harm our ethic IDF: Nearly 28% of Israeli males avoided conscription in 2007 The end of Zionism IDF invented draft-dodging Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Body of 2008' A U.K. men's magazine pays homage to Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli. Echoes of Thessaloniki A book on Sarkozy's Greek-Jewish roots goes on sale in Greece.   1.   only fair 12:16  |  realism 11/01/08   2.   A law to unite left and right 12:24  |  nina 11/01/08   3.   sorry,mistake 12:27  |  nina 11/01/08   4.   On step closer to a nationalistic dictatorship of the military 12:29  |  Benjamin Kahane 11/01/08   5.   Great idea 12:54  |  Kulak 11/01/08   6.   Absolutely 13:08  |  Nik Miller 11/01/08   7.   Nadia Helu will be happy 13:20  |  George 11/01/08   8.   Olmert`s army or Israel`s army? 13:30  |  Fred 11/01/08   9.   WHAT ABOUT JUDAISM? 14:15  |  AVI 11/01/08   10.   How about one who dodges a policeman giving him a ticket? 14:17  |  Avi 11/01/08   11.   How about an MK who beats up a security guard? 14:18  |  AVI 11/01/08   12.   A great way to reunite the Haredim 14:24  |  Avi Yerushalmi 11/01/08   13.   Nik & Cabel 14:37  |  o.a.p 11/01/08   14.   benjamin kahane 4 14:46  |  realism 11/01/08   15.   this is the right thing to do! 15:07  |  a Jew 11/01/08   16.   lets see 15:34  |  matilda 11/01/08   17.   Hey Kahane - It`s Called Civic Responsibility - Bear it Baby! 15:45  |  B`Galil 11/01/08   18.   Would it apply to these people 16:51  |  Jackie 11/01/08   19.   what no victor littleputz (paul harrison) comment on this? 16:57  |  shocked! 11/01/08   20.   i am not going to come back from USA and serve 17:09  |  *BEN JABO 11/01/08   21.   hey i am safe here in belfast and don`t care if i can`t vote 17:11  |  victor hardman 11/01/08   22.   Right to Vote 17:33  |  Garry 11/01/08   23.   Urgent and timely piece of legislation. No service, no vote. 19:17  |  Dr. L. Brnd 11/01/08

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