The Army Wants YOU!

March 6, 2008 - 9:53 AM by

Yet another storm a’brewin’ here in Israel: This time over conscription versus religious study.

According to the Hebrew press, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is using a legal curve ball to push more religious students – who generally postponse or refrain from service – into the army.

Today’s headline stories say Barak was presented with a list of 64 new yeshivas seeking immunity from service for their students.

“We’ve already got 900, for you-know-who’s sake!” Barak didn’t actually say but we’re paraphrasing here. “No. I’m not giving anymore immunity. Off to the army with all of you.”

And so it was written and so it shall be done.

Conscription letters are in the outbox, off they’ll go to a whole bunch of Yeshiva students and…well gee, the politicians are saying this is an unprecedented move.

The army counters grumblings with figures: Numbers of ultra-religious students opting out of the army are growing – from 400 in 1949 to a current 11% of military-age young people. Projections show that by 2020, a full 25% of army eligibles will opt out if curbing measures aren’t put into place.

Look for trouble. Expect an outcry. Even possible coalition break-ups.

An English version of the Hebrew story is here but it’s a tad confusing.

Tags: • Category: History and Culture, Israeliness, Politics 

Comments

4 Comments on The Army Wants YOU!

  1. Benji on Thu, Mar 6th 2008 10:06 AM

    2. Does this mean I have to serve now? I didn’t get my letter yet.

    Private Benjamin

  2. Nicole on Thu, Mar 6th 2008 10:11 AM

    3. You’re right about the tad confusing part – does ynet use an automated translation tool to translate their articles? Sure seems that way…

  3. Stephanie on Thu, Mar 6th 2008 10:43 AM

    4. i would guess so, nicole. benji..no comment.

  4. Ben-Yehudah on Sun, Mar 9th 2008 10:45 AM

    5. B”H What the news isn’t reporting is that:

    1. The left doesn’t want frum Jews in the army anyway. They don’t want their kis to be around 3 minyanim a day, mehadrin kitchens, tefillin and Torah books. They just want to give the Haredim a hard time.

    2. The Hardim who do volunteer work, such as driving an ambulance, being a medic, tutor or food distributor do not get alternative service credit like the regular datti leumi men not fit for service.

    3. More and more religious Zionists (not the mamlakhtim, but the minority Torah Zionists in a few Yesha towns) don’t want their kids going in to the army. They don’t want their kids to be influenced by those who hold the almighty state above HaShem and His Torah. The army is essentially an indoctrination program into loyalist Israeli society.

    4. Those residents of Yesha who don’t want their kids going into the army, are perfectly happy to defend their own towns, thus relieving the army of any personnel deficiencies.

    5. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Defense recently started canceling such programs. This is to put soldiers back into place, take some weapons away from settlers, and prepare for the next expulsions of Jews. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is pure logic, and the chatter about it in the quotes from various gov’t officials in the news is very telling.

    6. More and more mamlakhtim (State loyalist religious) are wary of joining the army after the expulsion from Gaza.

Leave a Comment





© 2012 ISRAELITY | Sitemap