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| Charedim at a recruitment center at the start of the war (TOI) |
When Israel was founded it needed a citizen/soldier army where everyone is subjected to the draft. Charedim needed to maintain their mission of full time Torah study as an essential component of our existence as a Godly nation. A compromise was reached whereby those who study Torah full time would be exempt. At the time there were about 400 or so exemptions.
Since then those numbers have exploded. There are now over 100,000 young Charedim exempted from army service. Making it a source of massive discontent on both sides.
I have long ago shared my concerns over the grossly unfair policy of wholesale exemption for this now large community. When army service entails the very real possibility of combat with implacable mortal enemies, dying in combat becomes a very real possibility. There is no way to justify one segment being required to take that risk while the other is not.
As recently noted here this situation has taken on increased urgency since the war in Gaza began. There is a manpower shortage in the army that is being addressed by the extension of the time each solider must serve.
The Israeli public whose sons and daughters are serving and dying is understandably more upset than ever about Charedi exemptions.
That (as also noted here recently) has generated unprecedented soul searching among prominent Charedi commentators and columnists. They are now openly saying that the hard core Charedi resistance to the draft needs to be re-evaluated. They recognize the injustice of how things stand now. And that the obvious pool of now exempt Charedim would be able to fill that need..
In response to the manpower shortage 2 former top Israeli generals, Benny Gantz (who could very well be the next prime minister of Israel) and Gadi Eisenkot are now calling for Charedim to drafted. Even Netanyahu (who is beholden the Charedi parties) has publicly suggested that the paradigm must change. (More about that later.)
The $64 question is what will the Charedi leadership response to this be. Will they continue massive resistance to the draft? Or will they be willing to finally compromise and allow their community to be subjected to some form of the draft?
My initial inclination is that they will try and fight it with everything they have. Massive protests will ensue. The Charedi parties will bolt the ruling coalition and new elections will be called. Recall that they submitted a bill that would equate Torah study with army service thereby codifying that exemption into the law forever. (The justification for this attitude has been discussed here ad infinitum and is beyond the scope of this post.) They quickly withdrew it because of the massive anti government protests generated by the government attempt to reform the judiciary.
On the other hand, maybe they will see the wisdom of modifying their position to prevent an even worse scenario that bringing down the government would usher in. There is little doubt that the proposal by Gantz does will not sit well with the Charedi leadership - to say the least. On the other hand their continued strong opposition to army service for their young does not sit well with the majority of Israelis. Including (and perhaps especially) the national religious whose are serving and whose percentage of dying for their country exceeds their percentage of the population While not a drop of Charedi blood is being spilled in combat.
This situation cannot stand. And maybe that is what an emergency meeting between leaders of ‘warring’ Charedi factions was all about:
(The war) is driving an issue so large that it eclipses minor difference over municipal elections. The issue of draft deferrals for yeshivah students has accompanied Israel since its inception, and the fate of several governments has hinged on it over the past few decades…
The dramatic change in the army’s perception was reflected in a recent statement by IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on the need to draft chareidim. Even Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich, who always trod carefully on the matter, changed his tune and declared that the current situation can’t continue...
There’s no need to explain the importance and value of preserving the status of Torah learners to chareidi readers. But it’s harder to explain that to a mother who sends her son to Gaza and is fed by a hostile media. Especially in light of the fact that even within the right-wing bloc, some voices are now demanding a new approach…
They can't afford to let the matter drop until a creative solution is found to one of the worst crises the community has ever faced.
In light of this new set of circumstances, and a little bit of soul searching maybe there is a chance for compromise where both sides will get some of what they want. Which could help solve the IDF’s manpower shortage. A solution along the lines I have suggested may be in the offing. A solution that entails exemptions for a substantial number of Charedim while requiring a substantial number to serve.
I believe the Prime Minister suggested a solution along these lines:
“a consensual arrangement under which more Charedim will carry out military service,”
…Noting the contribution of Charedi, who learn Torah and volunteer in emergency rescue services at far higher rates than the rest of the country…
“One cannot ignore what the public widely sees as the discrepancy in the division of the burden,”
“Anyone who wants absolute agreement won’t get any agreement,”
I think that’s right. What they will get instead is a new election in the middle of a war. That is never a good idea. It would detract from Israel’s existential mission to destroy the Hamas threat.
Will it benefit Netanyahu? Yes. In the short term it will keep him in office by preventing a government collapse. But that doesn’t mean his idea is a bad idea. I think it is a good idea to find a compromise that works even if it does give him an advantage. Israel needs more able bodied soldiers. The Charedi world wants a substantial number of their young to continue their uninterrupted Torah studies.
This makes it a win/win for everyone. Doesn’t it?
