The Knesset plenum took a first step on the way to extending
the military deferment law for full-time yeshiva students,
ending the discussion with a decision to hand the matter over
to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee to
determine how long the law should be extended.
Sixty-three MKs — an absolute majority of the Knesset's
120 representatives without Meretz but including the Prime
Minister and seven MKs from Labor — supported referring
the matter to the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee.
Only four MKs were opposed (Pines from Labor and three from
Meretz). That's right: only four MKs objected to extending
the law.
Even Ami Ayalon, one of the leading contenders for the
chairmanship of the Labor Party who recently tabled a bill
that would require yeshiva students to take part in a civil
service program one month out of the year and rear-guard
reserve duty in the event of emergency, voted in favor.
These power relations and the vote in the Knesset plenum
point to a major change in the Knesset and the Israeli public
on the issue of Torah study and the importance of allowing
bnei Torah the opportunity to fully engage in Torah
study undisturbed.
The big change could also be seen in the discussion itself,
which lacked all the raucousness of past discussions on the
issue. In fact there was almost no debating or clashes. With
the exception of a few speakers, mostly from Meretz, all of
the participants in the discussion (who were relatively few
in number, which also indicates the matter has become a non-
issue for many MKs) expressed understanding, at one level of
another, of the importance of Torah study and the large
contribution made by the Torah world.
Yoel Hasson (Kadima) did a good job of articulating the
process of change the Knesset and the Israeli public have
undergone. "I support extending the law," he said, "and I
think this is necessary and today we certainly cannot deal
with this issue, which is a very weighty matter in my
opinion. It is weighty in my opinion because I too, along
with young friends, often ask why a significant portion of
the population does not undertake this burden [of army
service]. But with the years I came to understand, through my
familiarity with the chareidi public as well, that this is
something we can afford to do and we will allow it to
continue."
Even Ami Ayalon said, "We understand that in the state of the
Jewish people the value of Torah study must light the way for
us. And when we change the law we cannot lay a finger on
those who genuinely study Torah and for whom Torah is their
vocation."
Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz also explained the change in attitude
that has taken place in the Knesset, especially in Ami
Ayalon. "I think you have shown light years of advancement
since the discussion and the struggle over this issue began,
to the point where you have become much better informed of
every aspect. I commend you for this — for arriving at
the conclusion as a secular individual regarding the value of
Torah study. For me this comes as a bright light after years
of unbearable battles over the issue."
Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin had a very interesting, far-
reaching proposal. In his opinion every individual, secular
or religious, yeshiva student or not, man or woman, should be
given the opportunity to be exempt from military duty based
on religious or conscientious objections. "I think this would
solve the problem of equality and create something universal.
There would be no objections. It seems to me such a proposal
would really save the day — uva leTzion
goel."
Most of the speakers were from UTJ and Shas, along with some
Arab MKs, who supported extending the deferment law. Said
Ahmad Tibi: "I don't think it's right to coerce the chareidi
population. This is a banner. It's a matter of the secular
society goring the chareidi society. The chareidi public
comes along and says, `This is what we cherish most.'
"These people simply do not want to be inducted. Does anyone
want to force them to join the ranks of this army they don't
want to be in and which apparently does not really want them?
For we hear between the lines the lack of esteem for them,
even as potential soldiers. I understand the banner they are
waving."
He went on to state objections against directing the attack
at yeshiva students alone. "Correct me if I'm mistaken, but
the number of draft dodgers in the civilian population is
even bigger than what gets publicized. Therefore the attempt
to focus on the chareidi population is an act of those who
want there to be a constant friction between the secular
population and the chareidi population, which says they do
not want to be inducted into this army under any
circumstances. Therefore, when a homogeneous, sectoral group
says, `This is what we cherish most,' this sentiment should
be honored."
