Beilin proposes bill to overturn mandatory military service law
Meretz Chair convinced optional enlistment would not diminish scope of recruits; bill aimed at allowing yeshiva students to join the workforce.
By Shahar IlanMeretz Chair Yossi Beilin will bring before the Knesset for a preliminary reading next week a bill overturning the mandatory military service law.
Beilin believes his proposal would solve the problem of postponing mandatory service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students who are exempt from the mandatory service under the Tal Law.
The Tal law allows yeshiva students over age 22 to take one year off from their studies. During this period, they can acquire a profession or work without being drafted. At the end of the year, the students must choose between returning to full-time studies or completing abbreviated national service.
Beilin argues that if the mandatory service law is overturned, the yeshiva students would be exempt from service without requiring the authorization of a yeshiva head, thus allowing them to join the workforce if they decide not to serve in the military, rather than being bound by law to continue studying in the yeshiva.
Beilin is convinced that making military service optional would not diminish the scope of the current recruits, citing high motivation to serve in the military among Israel's youth. However, Beilin's proposal allows the military to temporarily reinstate the mandatory draft in the case of diminished enlistment.
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Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin speaking to the press after a meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank City of Ramallah last week. (Reuters) |
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Yossi Beillin and his colleagues have one thing in mind - to undermine Torah learning. First they try with a mandatory draft, now without it - they are not interested in having more or less people serve, as long as Torah is not learned in Yeshivot - this is the Jewish state.
Another idiotic proposal by Beilin. The mandatory military service law must never be overturned, but the Tal Law should be revised. ALL Israeli citizens must do some form of national service and for the same length of time as all other citizens. If someone is not suited to the military, then he or she must do other national service. It must make no distinctions if the citizen is orthodox, haredi or Arab or a member of any other sect. It is unconscionable that the haredi section does not pull its weight in the most basic way that all the others do - putting their very lives on the line for Am Yisrael. This issue has divided Israeli society for far too long.
Man, the fact that even 5% of the population favors his ideas is scary. Even scarier is that , in the US, most Dems (and Pat Buchanon) like this guy - he gives them cover for their anti-Israeli policies. They refer to him as a "moderate" - yikes !
Is anyone still in doubt that this man is a paid Eurpopean Agent whose life is devoted to undermine and destroy the Jewish state?
This is a stroke of genius on the part of this brilliant politician: soon we would read in the newspapers that rich kids from Tel Aviv don't serve. There is nothing to undermine morale of those serving than the thought that they are suckers, giving up 3 years of their lives for nothing. The laws of the state are ever more careful not to give them any advantage over the non-serving youth, after they complete their military service. This is a magic formula for undermining the foundations of the zionist entity, and it must be promoted by Haaretz and the liberal elite (whose sons would be the first to decline service).
It's bad enough that you didn't retire in disgrace after the Oslo agreement which resulted in the deaths of thousands on both sides and the virtual obliteration of the israeli peace camp. Now you want to abolish the draft as if we weren't surronded by enemies waiting for us to show the first sign of weakness to destroy us. Pathetic.
Hey, Yossi, contrary to your comments the vast majority of the youth who excitedly anticipate their military service are the religious ones, because they believe in God and understand what they are protecting. Most of the rest here would rather not even be here. How many Ramat-Aviv kids are officers today? (Can you even find Olmert's and Rabin's descendants here?) How many of the Russians complain bitterly about defending Jews outside of the big cities? They'd prefer to be in NYC or LA. Seems all you really want to do is whittle the armed forces down to mostly religious kids, so that when they are maimed or killed by your handcuffing policies of appeasement you will have achieved your other goal - removing the religious community. How thoughtful.
Hi..Having served in the IDF(1967-1970) I find the idea of abolishing mandatory military service totally contrary to the principles attached to the establishment of the State of Israel and contrary to the concept of an egalitarian contribution of all citizens to the defense of the State. It is ironic that this should come from someone on the left of the political spectrum...Would wealthy Israeli youth be as motivated in volunteering or would this proposal further reinforce class cleavages already an issue in todays Israel? Thanks