Israel’s AG Says Chareidim Face Military Draft If No Legislation By April, Seeks Deadline Extension

The Israeli Attorney General’s Office informed the High Court of Justice on Wednesday that the government is actively engaged in crafting new legislation to regulate exemptions from military service for chareidi men. They requested an extension to the looming March 31 deadline to enact such a law.

In response to challenges against the existing arrangement, the Attorney General’s office noted that without an extension to a government resolution from June 2023, the state would no longer be legally authorized to exempt chareidi men from military conscription starting April 1.

Back in 2017, the High Court invalidated legislation granting blanket exemptions to Chareidi men from military service, deeming it discriminatory. The government was given a year to pass new legislation aimed at increasing chareidi enlistment, a deadline that has been extended multiple times due to intervening elections.

With the previous law expiring in June 2023, the current cabinet passed a resolution allowing the deferral of drafting chareidi men until March 2024. This extension aimed to provide time for the government to devise a new arrangement compliant with the court’s ruling.

However, legislative efforts were stalled by the Gaza conflict and extensive military mobilization, as public sentiment soured on prolonging the status quo, with mounting calls for equitable national service.

The IDF’s Personnel Directorate disclosed to a Knesset committee that a record 66,000 chareidi men received exemptions from military service over the past year, with only 540 opting to enlist since the conflict erupted.

The state, represented by the Attorney General’s Office, cited the outbreak of war as hindering consensus within the coalition to pass necessary legislation before the March 31 deadline. Given the impossibility of meeting the deadline, they requested an extension to update the court on progress toward a legislative framework for increased chareidi enlistment.

“Even though a legislative arrangement regarding yeshiva students and graduates of chareidi educational institutions has yet to be formulated, there is currently an intensive dialogue between all the relevant parties, in an attempt to reach a possible outline,” the response said. “However, at this time there is still no actual outline that can be announced, and according to what was communicated by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defense Ministry in the state’s announcement on February 15, 2024, this is a uniquely sensitive and complex issue like no other, particularly in the midst of a war and during the term of a national emergency government,” the state continued. “If the expiration date of the [June 2023] government resolution is not extended by a new decision that will set down a timetable for completing primary legislation by June 30, 2024, there will be no source of legal authority that allows blanket avoidance of the procedures for recruiting [Chareidi] yeshiva students,” the state added.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel criticized the Attorney General’s response, accusing the state of perpetuating an illegal situation and advocating for equal conscription laws.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich joined calls for greater chareidi participation in military service, asserting that the current situation is untenable. He emphasized mutual responsibility and respectful dialogue as crucial in fostering increased enlistment among the chareidi community.

{Matzav.com Israel}