Israeli ultra-Orthodox, in rare show of unity, say they won’t be drafted
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"Ultra-Orthodox parties inside Israel’s government say they will oppose any new law that would apply Israel’s compulsory military draft to ultra-Orthodox men — a stance that bodes ill for the stability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
Last week, Israel’s Supreme Court overturned a law that has helped tens of thousands of religious men avoid military service and pursue state-sponsored religious studies instead. The privilege has created widespread resentment among Israel’s secular majority and encouraged ultra-Orthodox men to become lifelong students, reducing their large families to living off state handouts.
With a July deadline looming, Netanyahu is now racing to find a new formula acceptable to the court and his coalition.
Netanyahu has promised to replace the so-called Tal Law with legislation that would allow “a much more equal sharing of the burden.” If no new law is on the books by the time the old one expires on July 31, universal conscription will presumably go into effect.
Depending on both ultra-Orthodox and fiercely secular parties in his government, Netanyahu faces a difficult task drawing up a new system."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/israeli-ultra-orthodox-in-rare-show-of-unity-say-they-wont-be-drafted/2012/02/27/gIQAJ4skdR_story.html
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