Knesset committee extends government authority to issue emergency reservist call-up orders

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee votes 8-7 to approve a government-backed measure to extend the government’s ability to issue emergency call-up orders for IDF reservists

Earlier this week, a previous effort stalled due to internal coalition resistance.

The measure will be extended to May 29 before needing to be renewed again.

After the measure initially fell in the committee vote last week, it was voted on for a second time and passed, but with the extension was limited to just seven days — forcing another vote on Sunday that failed due to opposition by Likud MK Amit Halevi.

Halevi was then removed from the committee and replaced by coalition whip and fellow Likud MK Ofir Katz, paving the way for the motion’s passage on Tuesday.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemns the passage of the measure, stating that the government was increasing the burden on reservists “with the votes of the ultra-Orthodox parties.”

“The people who are doing everything to encourage evasion [of military service by the ultra-Orhodox] are increasing the burden on people who have done 400 and 500 days of reserve service. IDF fighters should know that we will continue to oppose this move every time it comes to a vote,” he declares.