Conscription or Draft Dodging?
It was the prophet Jeremiah, who said over 2,500 years ago: “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear” (5:21).
It is wishful thinking to believe that the government will be successful in passing legislation to make the Charedim agree to undertake their civic duty by serving in Israel’s Defence Forces.
Hundreds of thousands of Charedim took to the streets of Jerusalem on October 30th to protest against attempts to force them to enlist.
The Charedim won’t agree to a law that will demand that they serve their country, while a watered-down bill is seen by many as one that would simply legalize their right to dodge the draft!
Attempts to pass legislation is just like banging one’s head against a brick wall. It isn’t going to work.
Netanyahu finds himself caught between Scylla and Charybdis. If he tries to force through legislation, his coalition will not give him the parliamentary majority that he requires.
On the other hand, the High Court of Justice has ordered his government within 45 days to draw up effective enforcement measures, including criminal proceedings, against ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students who refuse to comply with IDF conscription orders.
The 2-year war in the Gaza Strip has only served to emphasize the inequity of a situation whereby soldiers have had to put their lives on the line and reservists have undertaken lengthy periods of military service while yeshiva and Kollel students are exempt and left to study.
While it is difficult to see how legislation would force the Charedim to serve in the army, it would be possible to reduce the power that they enjoy on the Israeli political stage. Representing some 14% of the population, it is nigh impossible to form a government coalition without them.
Perhaps the time has come to penalize draft dodgers by denying them the right to vote in Israel’s elections. Why should those who refuse to serve their country be able to vote in politicians who will decide when and if Israel will go to war?
It could, of course, be argued that the right to vote is one of the principles of democracy. However, it should be noted that convicted prisoners detained in penal institutions in the United Kingdom are not allowed to vote.
Penal Reform International reported that “in 45 per cent of the 66 countries surveyed, conviction to imprisonment is automatically followed by disenfranchisement.”
Denying Charedi conscription absconders the right to vote might encourage their rabbis and political apparatchiks to reconsider their position. Even if it doesn’t, it would reduce the power of the Charedim on the political stage and that in and of itself would not be a bad thing.
