From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Liberman urges court to reject Netanyahu ‘tricks’ on Haredi IDF draft bill
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Hawkish opposition politician Avigdor Liberman calls on the High Court of Justice not to buy into Benjamin Netanyahu’s “tricks,” following reports that the prime minister will request a 10-day extension to today’s deadline to present an explanation as to why the IDF should not begin drafting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.
“I expect the High Court not to agree to all of Netanyahu’s attempts and tricks, which are intended solely for the purpose of jumping over the legal hurdle,” the Yisrael Beytenu chairman tweets.
“Netanyahu has no real intention of enacting an equal conscription law, and therefore I expect the High Court to issue a ruling instructing every young man upon reaching the age of 18 to report for military or civilian service, without tricks, shtick or flimflammery. The State of Israel should not continue to finance those who choose not to bear the burden [of military service] — the era of suckers is over.”
Earlier this month, the justices told the state that if it does not file a response to petitions against a government resolution passed in June 2023 — which instructed the IDF not to draft ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students for nine months — by March 27 the court will rule on the petitions on the basis of the information it already has.
The extension expires on March 31 and the government is struggling to reach a compromise between enlistment advocates and the Haredi parties in order to present the court with new legislation on the issue.
