August 9, 2012
Israeli military begins drafting haredi Orthodox
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An Israeli soldier straps on a phylactery to his forearm as he stands next to Orthodox Jewish men at the Western Wall on Feb. 22. Photo by REUTERS/Baz Ratner
The Israel Defense Forces have begun drafting haredi Orthodox 18-year-olds without encountering significant protests, one week after a new law requiring haredi military service took effect.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on July 31 ordered the IDF to compose guidelines for haredi army service within 30 days, and in the meantime implemented the Military Service Law of 1986 with regard to the haredi Orthodox. The law requires every Jewish Israeli to serve in the IDF, and includes penalties of up to three years in prison for those who do not comply.
A military source with knowledge of the issue told JTA that one week after the law’s implementation, the IDF has yet to encounter any significant problems in putting haredi youth through the draft process. The 18-year-olds are undergoing competency tests in math, Hebrew and general knowledge, as would any draftee.
Previously, under legislation known as the Tal Law, haredi youth would be able to go to an IDF induction center with a letter from a rabbi exempting them from military service so they could study Jewish texts in a yeshiva. The Israeli Supreme Court invalidated the Tal Law in February.
The court mandated the government to pass new legislation by Aug. 1, but no such legislation has been passed.
