03.02.2012                      10.Schwat. 5772

Meinung:

Haredi army enlistment may cost Netanyahu precious political capital

One of the main outcomes of last summer's protest will likely be an end to draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox. Meanwhile, army reservists are also pressing their case for more favorable affordable-housing criteria.

Army reservists may have been forced to dismantle their "suckers' compound" due to stormy weather this week, but they did succeed to vent their rage over the draft exemptions given to the ultra-Orthodox in the Knesset. On Monday they expressed their outrage there to government ministers and party leaders alike, and subsequently intensive discussions were held about changing criteria for housing assistance in reservists' favor, and about the Tal Law, which for the past decade has sanctioned Haredi draft evasion.
It appears now that the main result of last summer's protests will be that the ultra-Orthodox will start being drafted to army service or at least required to do national service. The public supports this. Most political parties support this. Two weeks ago, Benjamin Netanyahu was still talking about extending the Tal Law by another five years, but now he lacks a majority to do that for even 15 minutes….