The Knesset approved a law on 12 Adar to continue the
existing arrangement for yeshiva student draft deferrals for
the next two years. The unceasing efforts of the UTJ
representatives at the instruction of maranan
verabonon to do away with the decree that loomed over
the yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel has borne fruit. Fifty-nine
MKs voted for the law; 38 opposed and 7 abstained as the
bill passed its second and third readings. The bill was
passed even before the new government took office, but it
was with the obvious support of the new government as both
Shas and United Torah Judaism threatened not to join the
government unless the Knesset approved a two-year extension
of the current arrangement.
The Knesset had previously rejected a proposal to extend the
period by only one year by a majority of 56 as opposed to 42
and one abstention.
According to the new law, the current procedure for
deferrals of full time yeshiva students will remain in
effect until the summer of 5763. Deliberations on the issue
will take place during this time, and procedures for the
enactment of a permanent law on the issue will be
implemented.
Members of the following parties voted in favor of the
postponement: Likud (including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon);
Shas; UTJ; Mafdal (except for Shaul Yahalom, who abstained);
Ichud Haleumi, Chadash, Gesher and Bashara. Parties voting
against the laws were: Labor, Yisrael B'Aliya, Meretz,
Shinui, Habechira Hademocratit, Center, Heirut, Yisrael
Beiteinu.
The Labor Party imposed party discipline for the vote on the
proposal, though many party members were noticeably absent
or abstained. Among those absent was outgoing prime minister
Ehud Barak, who in recent years has led the public campaign
for the draft of yeshiva students.
Among those who abstained were MKs from the Labor party with
plans to run for party and government positions in the
future, knowing that they will need the support of the
chareidi parties. These MKs include Avraham Burg, Binyamin
ben Eliezer (who is also a minister in the new government),
Chaim Ramon and Shlomo Ben Ami. Shimon Peres was absent from
the plenum during the vote.
A day-long marathon to recruit a solid majority for the
proposal preceded the vote. UTJ Knesset members scurried
about the Knesset for hours, trying to persuade as many MKs
as possible to support the proposal and to extend the
temporary order for two additional years, instead of
supporting the proposal to postpone it for one year only.
At one point during the day it was feared that the proposal
would not pass, due to the party discipline imposed by the
One Israel party on its members. Members of the Mafdal party
also threatened not to vote for a two-year extension.
Chareidi MKs and those from the Likud who joined the efforts
to pass the law were instrumental in convincing some MKs
from Labor to be absent from the vote in order to guarantee
a majority. By the time voting had begun, it was certain
that a clear majority had been secured in favor of the
proposal.
A lengthy debate preceded the vote, in which the Meretz and
Shinui Knesset members blatantly attacked the law, the Torah
world and bnei yeshiva.
At the debate, Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz denounced Shinui
chairman Tommy Lapid for his scathing remarks. He then
added, "Lapid has reached heights of hatred and animosity in
his remarks, unheard of in the old world, but heard only in
the new world that wants to destroy the old one." Rabbi
Ravitz also attacked MK Paritzki from Shinui. "You spread
more hatred for Jews than many of the worst non-Jews," he
said.
Rabbi Ravitz blessed prime minister Ariel Sharon for his
support of the law, and said that the idea to enact a law
for two years was Sharon's. He did this in order to gain
time in which to seriously deliberate on the issue, without
the pressure of having to legislate a permanent law.
Rabbi Gafni was surprised by the opposition of the One
Israel to Sharon's request for extension of the time in
which to deliberate on the topic so that amicable
arrangements could be made. "It is inconceivable to permit a
situation in which every six months or year there is a
renewed incitement campaign against the lomdei Torah.
We demand to close this issue in the shortest period of time
possible. We ask that it end within four months."
Rabbi Gafni criticized those demanding an extension of the
term for only a year, claiming that a situation in which the
chareidi Knesset members will have to return to the Knesset
to ask for another extension and then undergo more
incitement, is unthinkable. "During a period in which
national unity prevails and everyone wants to prevent rifts
in the nation, why make an issue over whether the extension
should be one year or two? Is that a crucial issue?"
Rabbi Meir Porush criticized members of the Meretz party,
saying: "When Barak's Government was set up and the UTJ
representatives joined the coalition, everyone knew that
Barak agreed to pass legislation guaranteeing the yeshiva
students draft deferrals. Now, however, they are leading an
incitement campaign against the law and against the
lomdei haTorah. What kind of hypocrisy is this, when
they incite the Labor party against us? Why is Meretz
putting on `holier than thou' airs?"
In December 1998, the High Court ruled that the longstanding
system whereby the defense minister granted deferments
according to a minor provision of the law was illegal and
that the Knesset had to legislate the arrangement it wanted
to impose on society. It gave the Knesset a year to pass the
appropriate legislation.
Eight months later and under intense pressure from UTJ which
entered his government asking only for this committee and
implementation of its recommendations, then prime minister
Ehud Barak appointed a committee, headed by retired Supreme
Court justice Zvi Tal, to propose a compromise agreement.
The draft deferral law approved last week was part of the
larger legislative package based on the final
recommendations of the Tal Committee. It in effect maintains
the status quo on the issue that has prevailed since the
establishment of the State that gives the defense minister
the right to issue an unlimited number of deferrals every
year.
The same law was approved in December for five months as an
interim solution until a new government could take over.
The decision to split apart the Tal legislation was made
after the High Court's deadline for passing a law on the
deferrals expired.
The public committee headed by former High Court Justice Zvi
Tal recommended that yeshiva students be allowed to get
deferrals, but also calls for special frameworks for
chareidi military and civil service. The Tal legislation
would also enable yeshiva students to get permanent
exemptions at age 24, after which they would be able to work
legally.
