As a result of the active intervention and meetings of the Finance Committee Chairman, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni, and Health Minister MK Rabbi Yaakov Litzman with military personnel, a new arrangement has been achieved regarding the entire process of the call up of yeshiva students to the army draft board. Instructions issued by the army to the draft office state that yeshiva students will not be forced to undergo physical examinations, which have aroused much rancor of late. The draft board will suffice with medical reports from the students' family physicians.
The meetings of the UTJ MKs followed a second gathering of roshei yeshiva on the subject of the harsh draft decrees, which took place last week with the blessings of HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, to discuss a position of vigilance regarding the call up, from all of its aspects, as well as the severe problems which have occurred in the draft offices. In some cases yeshiva students have been forced to undergo humiliating examination processes.
The office of the MKs issued a statement that alongside the new regulations there will be a supervision of their effective implementation. Each yeshiva student who does find himself made uncomfortable at the draft offices is asked to present the details thereof to the offices of one of the MK representatives so that his complaint can be dealt with forthwith.
In the wake of the directives and the decisions, the roshei yeshiva stressed again that there has been no change in the instructions of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah issued on the 25th of Av, 5772, wherein it was decided that yeshiva students being called to the draft offices must do so but should not sign any document whatsoever and simply declare their status as a ben yeshiva. As stated previously, they will not be compelled to undergo physical examinations at the station itself.
