Yisrael Beytenu fired the opening shot for the Knesset’s summer session, submitting the first of many “Tal Law” alternatives expected in the coming months.
The Tal Law – declared illegal by the High Court of Justice in February – provided the legal framework for ultra-Orthodox men to defer IDF service indefinitely.
He also called on legislators from across the political spectrum to support the proposed bill.
“All groups, organizations and people involved in this issue should contact all MKs from Likud, Labor, Kadima, Independence, National Union, Habayit Hayehudi and Meretz and demand they support our proposal,” Liberman added. “No gimmicks, no excuses. Whoever wants everyone to serve in the army should just come and vote.”
Today, an estimated 60,000 men of army service age receive exemptions as full-time yeshiva students through the Tal Law.
Calling military service an “existential necessity,” Yisrael Beytenu’s alternative to the Tal Law would require almost all 18-year-olds, regardless of faith or religious observance, to enlist in either the IDF or fulfill national service.
The bill – written by MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beytenu), chairman of the Knesset constitution, law and justice committee chairman – quotes Maimonides, who said that those who do not work for a living are desecrating God’s name, and that it is forbidden to receive payment for learning Torah.
Up to 1,000 yeshiva students be able to receive an exemption from military service, in order to encourage those with exceptional talents. The same amount of excellent university students, athletes and artists may receive an exemption, as well.
Anyone who serves in national or civilian service will receive full rights and benefits, equal to those who served in the IDF, the bill states. Civilian service will be administrated through the Prime Minister’s Office and under his direct supervision.
Those who do not serve the state may not receive any grants or payments from the government, “in order to prevent those who dodge service from relying on funding from the government, so they will have to earn a living,” according to the legislation’s subtext.
It is about time that the Tal law be revoked, and all able men and women, regardless of their religious affiliation, not only contribute to the State’s well being, whether in the IDF or other civil
or national service, but take responsibility for earning a living, thus supporting their families.
To simply pretend to sit and learn Torah — as many do –the burden of making ends meet falls on their already overburdened wives, who besides raising a flock of children, often depend– apart from government subsidies — on financial support from parents, and other handouts.
Lieberman has a practical solution that should be supported by all MKs.
Great idea.
This proposal is correct. It should be said, however, to make it either more palatable or maybe just to take into consideration the fact that some also shy away from army service because of the “perceived” (however accurate that may be) insensitivities or so-called secular influences inherent into army life. I recently read somewhere that an MK said, correctly I might add, that to be a truly tolerant society you have to “tolerate” the so-called intolerant which means being sensitive to their needs even if you don’t understand or agree with them and I think that to truly integrate the more religious in the army you have to take those sensitivities into consideration when you change the law. It will become more accepted and more successful than simply “forcing” conscription. You want to also start changing the “mindset” of those in the religious world so that they will WANT to serve and not just because they have to serve. This will take sensitivity on the part of the lawmakers-especially those so bent on “making” them serve.