After appointment of new head: Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to discuss IDF Conscription Law

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is expected to convene next week for its first discussions following the appointment of Knesset Member Boaz Bismuth as the committee’s new chair, and the dismissal of Knesset Member Yuli Edelstein.

In addition to regular security updates, the committee is expected to hold an initial discussion on the conscription law, which Bismuth is interested in advancing. This was reported on Wednesday morning on the “This Morning” program on Kan Reshet Bet Radio.

The incoming chair requested to hold deliberations on the law even during the Knesset’s full recess, in the last two weeks of August. However, after Knesset staff made it clear they would not agree to that, Bismuth withdrew his request, saying it was out of respect for their position.

Within 24 hours of taking office, Bismuth spoke with representatives of reserve duty organizations, as well as with Knesset Members Uri Maklev and Yaakov Asher from the United Torah Judaism party, and Yinon Azulai from the Shas party.

During those conversations, the ultra-Orthodox Knesset members made it clear that Edelstein’s proposed version of the IDF conscription law was unacceptable to them. They further stated that under no circumstances would they accept a clause requiring yeshiva students to undergo daily biometric identification via fingerprinting.

On Monday, the Knesset House Committee approved Bismuth’s appointment as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee by a majority of 10 in favor and 4 opposed, as part of the ruling party’s attempt to address the IDF recruitment crisis with the ultra-Orthodox parties.

On the day of the appointment’s approval, Kan Reshet Bet reported that sources close to the incoming chairman said he was willing to hold as many discussions as necessary to formulate an efficient draft of the conscription law. The aim is to reach a law that can be approved, not to engage in countless discussions that yield no results.

A day after the appointment was approved, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara submitted a statement to the High Court of Justice criticizing the government’s policy on ultra-Orthodox conscription.

“In July, the army issued call-up orders to all those obligated to enlist from the ultra-Orthodox sector (54,000 orders), and reported an enforcement plan that includes increased detentions and arrests, and a shortened process for declaring draft evasion."

"An additional essential step is expanding the range of sanctions and revoking benefits from draft dodgers. This issue, which is under government responsibility, has not yet been advanced.”