Lapid calls Haredi exemptions from IDF service ‘an open wound,’ presents own draft law

Opposition leader Yair Lapid chastises the ultra-Orthodox community over the military service exemptions enjoyed by men from the sector, saying its use of political power to avoid serving in the IDF and to increase the stipends given to full-time yeshiva students is unacceptable.

Lapid speaks during a Yesh Atid faction meeting at the Knesset, against the background of ultra-Orthodox pressure on the government to pass a law codifying blanket exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.

“This is an open wound. It cannot be that our children serve the state, endanger their lives, and you say ‘this doesn’t interest us, we have political power and we will use it to release our children [from military service] and at the same time increase [yeshiva] stipends,’” says Lapid, addressing the ultra-Orthodox community in general.

Lapid says his party has drawn up a law largely based on one that was passed in 2014 by the Netanyahu-led government of the time at the behest of Yesh Atid, but gutted in 2015 by the ultra-Orthodox parties in a new Netanyahu-led government, to bring about universal enlistment, either in the IDF or civilian service.

A certain number of outstanding yeshiva students could get full IDF exemptions under the law, and the age of exemption from military service would be lowered to 22.

“We have a joint fate and Israeli society needs a new social contract. No one is conspiring against you [the ultra-Orthodox]. What we are offering you is exactly what we are offering our own children.”