The issue of haredi recruitment, which is expected to be at the center of the upcoming winter conference in the Knesset, occupies politicians, including the chairman of the state camp, Benny Gantz, who in recent weeks has been walking around the rabbis' homes and explaining to them why the draft law he is formulating together with MK Gadi Eisenkot is a good law that can solve the recruitment problem.
Gantz and Eisenkot propose an alternative to the draft law: "We will provide a wide range of service options" // From Facebook
His last visit was yesterday (Sunday) when he visited the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau. The conversation, which took place privately, dealt with personal issues as well as current issues related to the rift in Israeli society, and a significant part of it dealt with the issue of the draft law. This meeting joins a meeting Gantz held with Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, who is affiliated with Shas and Rabbi Meir Bergen in Bnei Brak.
In the long term: recruiting young people from all sectors
In all of Gantz's conversations with the rabbis, the question of haredi recruitment is raised. Gantz warns of the impending rift over the volatile issue, and mainly tries to convince and explain that the law he seeks to pass. The rabbis refrain from giving an unequivocal answer or expressing support for Gantz's version of the draft, but according to Gantz's people, they do not reject it out of hand and express interest.
According to Gantz and Eisenkot's recruitment idea, in the long run all young men and women from all sectors (including Haredim and Arabs) will serve the state, serving for about two years in the IDF or in other civilian systems (hospital, ZAKA, MDA, technological training).
The service will be built on the basis of equality in service duty, differential and progressiveness in remuneration. IDF soldiers will receive priority in both incentives and recognition. The service tracks will be adapted to the cultural needs of the diverse populations in Israel.
Haredim at the recruitment office (archive), photo: Gideon Markowitz
Even before the opening of the Winter Conference, the ultra-Orthodox mark the draft law as their main task and convey messages that they will not support the legal reform that the coalition will try to bring about until the draft law is passed. During the recess, the government changed its intention regarding the law.
Initially, they thought of bringing to the vote a package of laws whose purpose would be to enact a sweeping exemption from service. Due to the fear of public criticism, they are now moving to pass a draft law according to the Attias outline, an outline that Benny Gantz also signed in the past in coalition agreements.
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