The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee began
talks on the passage of a law allowing the deferment of
military service for full-time yeshiva students. The section
of the law that allows them to defer military duty was
legislated five years ago and is about to expire. Two months
ago the government decided to extend the law for an
additional five-year period and yesterday the issue was
brought before a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Security Committee.
Deputy Security Minister Ephraim Sneh (Labor) presented the
government and Defense Ministry's recommendation to extend
the law for five years.
MKs Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz and Rabbi Moshe Gafni also demanded
a five-year extension.
Meanwhile MK Ami Ayalon (Labor) said the law should not be
extended for more than a year and Committee Chairman Tzachi
Hanegbi (Kadima) along with other MKs proposed extending the
law for a period of three years. MK Yossi Beilin (Meretz)
suggested the law be cancelled altogether.
The committee vote was scheduled to take place on Monday.
MK Rabbi Ravitz expressed hopes the coalition members in the
committee would vote in accordance with the government
decision to extend the law for another five years.
