Posted on 04/16/23
| News Source: JPost
A forum comprised of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Ministerial Liaison to the Knesset David (Dudi) Amsalem and coalition whip MK Ofir Katz met on Sunday at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem in order to discuss an outline for a new haredi draft bill, a spokesperson for Gallant confirmed.
The meeting came after haredi party leaders clarified to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week that despite the sensitivity of the issue, they are insisting on the fulfillment of a coalition agreement clause to pass such a bill by the time Israel's budget passes on May 29.
Smotrich's proposal is called "A New Social Contract for Sharing the Burden," according to a report by Yisrael Hayom. The idea is that the government will prioritize equality in the "economic burden" over the "military burden," while minimizing the inequality to IDF soldiers by shortening the length of service and providing benefits, according to the report.
According to the existing Draft Law that expires on July 31, haredi yeshiva students who leave a yeshiva before the age of 26 are required to serve in the IDF. A central part of Smotrich's plan is to lower the "exemption age." This will enable haredi men to join the workforce earlier.