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The ministerial committee, tasked with creating a more equal military enlistment, finally voted in favour of a draft bill, following disagreements which had caused tensions within the coalition earlier this week.

The committee headed by Science, Technology and Space Minister Yaakov Peri of Yesh Atid last week published its proposals, including the stipulation that each year, all but 1,800 full-time ultra-Orthodox seminary students will be required to enlist in either the IDF or civilian national service once they reach the age of 21. Failure to do so will result in imprisonment. However, Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon of Likud had demanded that the possibility of criminal proceedings against ultra-Orthodox students refusing to serve be omitted, prompting Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to suggest that his party may leave the coalition over the issue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Ya’alon to drop his opposition.

The committee yesterday approved the recommendations, with Ya’alon voting in favour of the plan. Jewish Home’s Minister Uri Ariel voted against the draft bill, while Hatnua’s Minister Amir Peretz abstained. Nonetheless, at a press conference yesterday evening, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, who campaigned hard on reforming military enlistment prior to January’s election, hailed the recommendations as “historic.” He said, “In past years, this issue has toppled governments, broken apart coalitions, ruined careers and killed political parties… It is a badge of honour for our government that it agreed on a unified path.” Appealing to the ultra-Orthodox sector, Lapid said “such a large community cannot stand on the sidelines” of society and further argued that Israel’s enemies “do not distinguish between us.” Lapid pledged that “This law will enable us to remove barriers.” The Peri Committee proposals will now be sent to the cabinet and then the Knesset for approval.