Edelstein says IDF conscription law to be presented soon, reservists groups ask him not to give in to pressure

The coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday morning that it was withdrawing bills from preliminary reading in the Knesset. The decision came after ultra-Orthodox parties announced a boycott of votes following the failure of the coalition to submit a draft of the Haredi IDF Draft bill by Tuesday night – legislation that would grant most ultra-Orthodox men exemptions from mandatory military service.

The draft exemption bill is currently being written by the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and heavy pressure is being placed on committee chairman Yuli Edelstein, especially by Netanyahu himself. 

Edelstein reportedly said that he would try to have a draft version of the bill ready by Thursday. 

In a meeting with reservist groups Tuesday night, Edelstein told the soldiers that what is being presented is an initial draft, not the finished bill. He also told the reservists that in order to increase Haredi enlistment, which the government is committed to, it will be necessary to start with a law that the ultra-Orthodox parties agree to. 

Shortly before the start of Operation Rising Lion, Edelstein had announced “agreements on principle” for the draft bill. 

“After long deliberations, we have reached agreements on principles on which to base a proposal for the enlistment law,” Edelstein said at the time. 

However, following the start of the Israel-Iran war the next day, no work was done on the bill for several days. 

Edelstein told the reservists that even in those days the ultra-Orthodox parties had threatened to boycott voting in the Knesset, which risks collapsing the coalition. Those threats continued, Edelstein said, even while the IAF planes were still in the air. 

"Should I tell Miri [Miri Frankel, the chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee] to sit in a shelter and finish the draft?” Edelstein asked. “There were meetings every day related to Operation Rising Lion. Now she’s writing something.” 

Reservists are upset with the ultra-Orthodox over their refusal to serve in the IDF, especially as the reserve soldiers have been called back for multiple tours of duty during the Iron Swords War. 

According to reports from several Israeli news agencies, the reservist were angered after Edelstein told them to forget about enforcing current laws regarding ultra-Orthodox enlistment. 

“I don't see that enforcement will be carried out tomorrow morning. Forget about enforcement,” Edelstein reportedly said. 

He also told them that a law that is firmer in its language would not likely pass. Saying that even if some in the opposition voted for the bill, “it’s 42 votes, where will you get another 19 votes from the coalition?” 

He also told the reservists that certain agreements were made in order not to collapse the coalition before the start of Operation Rising Lion. 

David Scherez, a representative of the reservist group “El HaDegel” (To the Flag), told Ynet that the bill being discussed by Edelstein is unacceptable to reservists. 

“We demanded enforcement, that budgets not be returned to the ultra-Orthodox institutions. Only when they enlist will it [funds] begin to be released,” Scherzo said. “Apparently that's not the direction. Yuli [Edelstein] doesn't believe in enforcement, he doesn't intend to promote it in the committee.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke with soldiers today and supported the draft agreement that was reached with the Haredi parties. 

“Conscription of the Haredi is necessary at the highest level, but the steps need to be possible,” Katz said. “You could say that 100% of them will enlist, but they won't accept that. We all know that we won't accept that. If this law is approved, it means that in the next two years there will be 10,000 Haredi recruits for combat roles and combat support.” 

Katz also spoke to the fears expressed by many ultra-Orthodox about the loss of religious identity among soldiers serving in the IDF. 

“I have no interest in dissolving the entire world of Torah,” Katz stated. 

In the absence of a new Haredi Draft bill, the IDF began sending more draft orders to eligible Haredi men. The IDF is expected to send out 54,000 draft orders, following the instruction of the Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara. 

While most recipients are not expected to respond, the sending of the orders puts the recipients under the status of having received an order. Those who receive orders without responding can have certain consequences, including denial of exit or entry to Israel.