Pressure Mounts on Netanyahu: Edelstein Presents Draft Law for Exemption from Military Servstart
Introduction
In light of increasing pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties to expedite the exemption from military servstart law, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, presented a draft of the law to Haredi representative Ariel Atias on Sunday afternoon. This move comes just hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s flight to Washington, aiming to alleviate internal coalition tensions and signal progress to his partners.
Reaction from Opposition
The response from the opposition was swift and critical. Yair Lapid, Leader of the Opposition, harshly criticized Edelstein’s actions, stating, “If Yuli Edelstein, under Netanyahu’s pressure, presents the law to Haredim before presenting it to soldiers and reservists, it summarizes the entire story of the exemption law.”
Coalition Optimism
Despite the backlash, there remains optimism within the coalition regarding a potential vote on the law which would exempt young Haredim from military servstart. Should the law be approved, it has the potential to resolve the long-standing political crisis that has plagued the government since its inception, particularly in recent weeks.
Spiritual leader of Shas, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, indicated in a recent weekly lecture that the Council of Torah Sages is set to discuss the draft law soon, remarking, “If the leaders of the government understood the value of Torah learners, they would adorn them with gold, not just impose sanctions.”
Shas’s Perspective
Shas leader Aryeh Deri emphasized in an interview with the newspaper “Mishpacha” that the proposed law is not intended to draft but to regulate the status of those studying Torah. Meanwhile, party spokesperson Asher Medina criticized reservist organizations advocating for Haredi enlistment, asserting that Haredi representatives had made sincere efforts to promote an agreed-upon framework, while “serving organizations” were attempting to thwart any progress.
Legislative Context
Since the beginning of the summer session, the Haredi parties have refrained from voting with the coalition in protest against the absence of an agreed military servstart law. However, recent weeks have seen signs of a thaw in relations, interpreted by Likud officials as a movement toward a viable solution.
About a month ago, Deri met with Netanyahu in an effort to reach consensus and prevent parliamentary dissolution. Two days prior, members of the Shas Council of Torah Sages sent a letter to Deri, highlighting their firm opposition to the conscription of Haredim into the IDF. The stance was supported by prominent Shas rabbis, including Rabbi Shlomo Machpud.
As developments unfold regarding the military servstart exemption law, the political landscape continues to shift, reflecting the complexities of coalition governance in Israel