Knesset defense panel to hold 1st discussion on Haredi draft with new chairman next week

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has scheduled for next week its first discussion on ultra-Orthodox enlistment since former chairman Yuli Edelstein was replaced by fellow Likud MK Boaz Bismuth.

Members of the committee were informed that they would meet to discuss advancing the government’s controversial enlistment legislation on Tuesday, in preparation for the second and third readings necessary for it to pass into law.

The Knesset’s ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, have been pushing hard for the passage of a bill enabling most ultra-Orthodox males to continue to avoid military conscription or other national service.

Last month, UTJ quit the coalition after being presented with a copy of a proposed enlistment bill prepared by Edelstein, which it argued had violated the terms of a supposed compromise reached in June. They were quickly followed by Shas, which, while quitting the government, has remained part of the coalition.

Edelstein’s bill would have imposed harsh sanctions on draft evaders, including the revocation of drivers’ licenses, a ban on flying abroad, a prohibition on applying for civil service jobs, no government subsidies for purchasing an apartment, and cancellations of discounts on public transportation, National Insurance payments, and electricity bills.

To mollify the Haredim, the coalition on Monday replaced Edelstein with Bismuth, who, according to the Ynet news site, intends to submit a new draft of the bill within weeks and hold discussions on it during the current Knesset recess to advance it when the parliament reconvenes in October.

Bismuth met with reservists in the Knesset today to discuss the issue.