"We cannot succumb to complacency but must increase our prayers in face of the attempts to renew the decree of mobilizing yeshiva students," was the message of Rosh Hayeshiva R' Aharon Leib Shteinman.
The issue has been on the front burner for the past several months, and the Knesset must take some action this summer. The High Court ruled that they cannot just extend the existing law but must pass a new one. The issue has become a political football and the secular parties have competed among themselves to advance anti-religious proposals. The formation of the extremely broad government means that the political power that the chareidi parties had up until now is considerably weakened. The practical importance of chareidi youth serving in the army has fallen in recent years, but the social and political power of the issue has if anything increased.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has assured chareidi politicians that he will work to reach a law that they can live with, but things are very fluid.
HaRav Shteinman further said that we must continue to be on guard against the enemies of Torah who seek pretexts to harass full time Torah students. "We must be aware that the main [weapon] is tefillah, and that we must increase our pleading before Hashem that He foil their plans and schemes, and that bnei Torah be allowed to pursue their study in peace and quiet, as is their pure desire."
He further decried those who claim that drafting tens of thousands of yeshiva students by force is improbable and unfeasible, that the [government] couldn't possibly do such a thing, but that we must not dismiss it and sit back complacently, for even if they won't do it in such great numbers, they are very likely to do so to individuals.
"Even if one is arrested, it will weaken the entire Torah world," he warned.
