Israeli coalition sets new goal of passing IDF Draft law in December

The Israeli coalition’s new goal is to complete the passage of the IDF Draft law in December, about two months from now – according to a report last evening (Wednesday) on Kan News. This follows the publication of the draft law by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Boaz Bismuth.

To achieve this goal, a legislative marathon in the committee will begin next Monday.

The ultra-Orthodox parties have decided not to respond publicly to the draft law that was released, so as not to harm its progress. Although the ultra-Orthodox rabbis have not yet formally approved the proposal, its wording was coordinated with representatives of the ultra-Orthodox politicians.

Yesterday, Kan News reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to postpone discussion of the conscription law so that it would not take place simultaneously with the planned “million-man ultra-Orthodox rally” today (Thursday). The draft conscription law was supposed to be presented to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday, but late at night MK Bismuth received a phone call from Netanyahu asking to delay the move and submit the draft for his review, after it had already been prepared for distribution.

Since Knesset procedure requires that the draft of a bill be submitted 48 hours before its discussion, the Prime Minister requested that the discussion – originally scheduled for Thursday – be postponed to the following Monday.

Officially, Netanyahu’s office explained that the delay was meant to ensure that the Prime Minister was thoroughly familiar with the draft law’s wording. However, according to two sources close to Netanyahu, the real reason was a consultation that concluded that holding the discussion on Thursday, simultaneously with the rally – in which Likud members might also participate – could politically harm the party ahead of the elections.

The ultra-Orthodox parties were told that more time was needed to bridge certain legal difficulties raised by the committee’s legal advisors, and the postponement was coordinated with them.