The government on Sunday approved Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s plan to increase enlistment of haredim into the IDF and National Service, even as those opposed to the reform claimed it actually legitimizes evading service.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the decision, saying he agreed haredim should "carry more of the burden."
The proposal follows the recommendation of Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi to double the number of haredim in the IDF within four years. According to the draft resolution, the IDF will recruit 2,400 haredim under the Tal Law in 2011. Half of the draftees would be recruited to the army and the second half to National Service.
The number of haredi draftees would be increased by 600 each year until it reaches 4,800 in 2015.
Under the reform, the IDF would prepare various combat units to absorb haredi soldiers. In order to meet this goal, the government would allocate NIS 130 million a year for a new recruitment framework. An additional NIS 70 million would be allocated to developing new frameworks for haredi participation in civilian service.
Barak said that the plan will improve the preparedness of some of the haredim to integrate into the workforce and will contribute to a gradual change in the way the haredi society relates to the IDF and National Service.
The defense minister stated that the IDF opens its doors to cooperate in this "national task."
He added that the real test will be in carrying out the plan, and that it is necessary to work hard in order to do so.
Those who oppose the bill believe that rather than increasing IDF enlistment among haredim, it actually legitimizes evading army service.
The bill would let married haredim age 22 or older and unmarried haredim age 24 or older do a one-year stint in the emergency services (police, fire department, ambulance service, etc.) instead of the three-year army service required of most other Jewish men.
Kadima released a statement following the reform’s approval, accusing Netanyahu of "allowing evasion in exchange for survival."
"This is a trick and a cynical action meant to mislead the High Court of Justice," the statement read.
Kadima MK Yohanan Plessner said that the reform would allow some 12,000 yeshiva students to receive an immediate exemption and "within the next five years maybe 2400 yeshiva students will enlist."
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