The discussion and legality will now move form solely being in the arena of the Haredi students and move to also deal with the university student community.
MK Yoni Shetboun (Habayit Hayehudi) has proposed a law by which the government will cut any academic subsidies from students who evaded army service.
Currently, any student who is studying in a university that is government funded enjoys subsidies for his tuition. The student pays about 10000NIS for the academic year, and the State pays the rest, about double what the student paid. If Shetboun's proposal will pass, army evaders will not get that subsidy, making university study very expensive.
The law passed its vote in the legislative committee by an overwhelming majority, and will be prepared for voting in the Knesset.
(source: Ynet)
This is one of the deficiencies of having a draft - it prevents anyone and everyone from moving on in life, until they fulfill that obligation. But if there is going to be a draft, and if there is going to be reprisals against some who evade service, it is fair that the reprisals are in place for anyone who evades service.
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But if there is going to be a draft, and if there is going to be reprisals against some who evade service, it is fair that the reprisals are in place for anyone who evades service.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good idea. I do think it's worth noting, though, that people who evade service without a valid exemption are already subject to reprisals. - I believe the "reprisal" under current law is a three year prison term. The real issue has been whether, and to what extent, yeshiva study should be considered a valid exemption. The reprisals that are being discussed for people that will no longer be entitled to this exemption are in lieu of the three year prison sentence that constitutes the standard "reprisal" for most citizens that evade army service without a valid exemption.
I think it is further worth noting that people that were formerly entitled to the yeshiva exemption will still be no less entitled than anyone else to exemptions based on health, physical or emotional, and any other condition that would make them unfit for army service.
this law is specifically for those evading service without official exemptions. It seems people find a way to get ou of service without getting an exemption. the law refers to orkim and mishtamtim. those are terms used for people who evade service, not get exemptions.
DeleteSo the law does not apply to Arabs because Arabs are exempt. Gee-whiz.
ReplyDeleteJust go with Feiglin's plan to make service a volunteer basis. Keep university subsidies available for all citizens, but make them lower. Part of the package for volunteer army service will include generous education grants.
ReplyDeleteThen people can get into the workforce when they want, and even Charedim might see army/sherut as a financial incentive versus the politicization it has now.
Cross-Currents has a new article up, citing Piron's interview of several Charedi students at Machon Lev programs - they all say they want to make a great parnassa to help others in their family sit and learn. Israeli society will always be diverse - it's up to us to define what will be good enough "participation" so we can all get along and prosper.