IDF played haredi recruitment figures, but blame is on politicians

When enlisting the ultra-Orthodox was a natural process, the numbers spoke for themselves, but the political influence only did damage. If lawmakers want to increase the integration of ultra-Orthodox young people, they must promote their entry into the employment market. So the question is not the forgeries - but why the IDF shares the bluff of the politicians

IDF played haredi recruitment figures, but blame is on politicians

The current political crisis was born in July 2018. Then there was a heated debate between the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and Torah Judaism, and then Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman regarding the wording of the recruitment law, the law that provides exemption from the IDF service to ultra-Orthodox who study Torah, and sets targets for Haredi recruiters every year. The ultra-Orthodox politicians have agreed to adopt the law of the Ministry of Defense almost as it is. They had one request to make one significant change: move the draft law drafting targets into regulations or government decisions so that they were more flexible.

If the IDF fails to meet its targets, they explained in closed talks, it will be possible to change them so as not to impose financial sanctions on the yeshivas. Lieberman disagreed, objected and announced that he would not be there. For months, the debate continued until the Knesset's dissolution. Elections - and maybe elections again soon - The Law of Recruitment was not the whole story, along the way there were other controversial issues (the Law of Converting, opening supermarkets on Saturday, for example), charges against the Prime Minister and more, but there it all began.

By law, Haredi in the IDF is a teenager who studied for at least two years between the ages of 14-18 in an ultra-Orthodox institution. , The IDF would draw the figure of ultra-Orthodox recruits based on data from the Ministry of Education and based on individual tests against recruits whose details did not appear in the Ministry of Education but were verified as ultra-orthodox by the IDF. In the army, the numbers were joined together and officially presented the number of recruits, Every year, again.

For months, the debate continued until the Knesset was dispersed. Haredi at entrance to Tel Hashomer base (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Yeshiva students to be exempt, Tel Hashomer Recruitment Bureau, November 28, 2018 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

In 2018, there was a dramatic decline in the number of recruits. The IDF has so far refrained from publishing the official figure, but according to internal IDF information, the decline is 20% compared to the previous year. To counter expected criticism, an IDF official responsible for recruiting ultra-Orthodox recruits decided to change the counting method and calculate the number of ultra-Orthodox recruits on the basis of data from the Ministry of Education alone. This created a situation that the data presented in previous years were allegedly "fake".

The IDF announced that the Maj. Gen. Military Reserve will investigate the allegations, but the truth of the matter, which is not being talked about, is that the main problem that led to the current crisis and the great pressure on the military is in general political.

Haredi recruiting data storm: "Instead of taking responsibility, army prefers to increase"

What would have happened if Litzman had drafted the law of recruitment?

Would more Haredim be drafted into the IDF if the recruiting targets were in law or regulations? Will more Haredim be drafted if Yair Lapid drafted the Recruitment Law or fewer Haredim would be drafted if Yaakov Litzman drafted the law? No. The opposite is likely to be the case.

The core of the problem, which led the military to play data, is the long-term political influence it has to raise the percentage of ultra-Orthodox enlistment, regardless of the unique nature of the ultra-Orthodox society. The form of work that has taken root, during which politicians are re-examining the number of ultra-Orthodox who enlist in the military each year, has been shown to be ineffective, and perhaps harmful.

When they allowed the Haredi mobilization process to be a natural process, and the politicians stood aside, the numbers spoke for themselves. The question that lawmakers have to ask themselves is whether they want to increase the integration of the ultra-Orthodox in Israeli society. If this is indeed the goal, anxious young people should be allowed to integrate more into the employment market. Fakes yes or no, this is not the question, but why is the IDF a full partner in bluffing politicians' recruiting? The truth is, it should have been exposed to it long ago.