Shas chairman to write a new universal draft bill

Interior Minister Eli Yishai, the chairman of Shas, said he would propose a new law to regulate enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men into military and national service.

Yishai wrote on his Facebook page late Wednesday night that he would act to pass the legislation as soon as possible and that no sanctions would be levied against those who don’t serve.

“We need a law that will give a real solution to the problem,” the post read. The new law “can’t be detached from reality,” but rather needs to think of creative ways to integrate the religious population into service.

Things must not be forced upon people, and “sanctions are unacceptable,” Yishai said, responding to recommendations issued by the Plesner Committee for Equal Share of the Burden Wednesday, which sought to use financial sanctions against draft dodgers.

Shas and United Torah Judaism had boycotted the Kadima-headed committee, saying they would not cooperate with those trying to draft yeshiva students.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that he aimed to prepare a universal conscription bill of his own, mandating Arab and ultra-Orthodox participation in national and military service, that would be acceptable to the coalition and applicable in practice.

Speaking in reaction to the publication of the Plesner committee’s recommendations regarding a replacement for the soon-to-expire Tal Law, Netanyahu said that “the ultra-Orthodox must integrate in military service, and Arab Israelis must integrate in national service, too.”

The so-called Tal Law was struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year. For 10 years, the legislation had provided a virtual exemption from military or national service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.

“The recommendations [of the Plesner committee] included important principles,” Netanyahu said. “My intention is to put forward a bill that includes Arabs and ultra-Orthodox [Israelis], which will win a majority in the Knesset and can be put into practice.”

“We are facing a historic change in Israeli society,” Netanyahu added. “The status quo can’t continue.”