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Ultra-Orthodox draft law gets go ahead for Knesset vote next week
A special Knesset committee approved a draft law which would mandate ultra-Orthodox seminary students to enlist in the military or face criminal sanctions, paving the way for final Knesset votes on the proposed legislation next week.
The bill, which passed a first Knesset reading in July, requires that all but 1,800 full-time ultra-Orthodox seminary students be required to enlist in either the IDF or civilian national service once they reach the age of 21. A special Knesset committee headed by Jewish Home MK Ayelet Shaked approved the bill this week, which includes placing criminal sanctions on ultra-Orthodox draftees who refuse to enlist, a stipulation vehemently opposed by ultra-Orthodox leaders. However, the bill has also been criticised by those pushing for ultra-Orthodox enlistment who say it does not go far enough and point out it will not be fully implemented until 2017.
The Shaked Committee’s approval means that the bill is scheduled for discussion next Tuesday, followed by second and third votes in the Knesset on Wednesday. Next week will also see a Knesset debate and vote on another significant item of legislation. On Monday, the plenum will discuss an electoral reform bill, with a vote expected on Tuesday. The draft law would raise the electoral threshold from 2 per cent to 3.5 per cent. Supporters of the bill say that it will help make government more effective, making it harder for small peripheral parties to disrupt legislative initiatives. However, critics say that it is aimed at silencing minority voices, particularly Arab parties in the Knesset.
Ahead of next week’s votes, opposition parties voiced strong objections to the amount of time scheduled for debates on both bills, criticising them as inadequate. Labour faction leader Eitan Cabel apparently asked the Knesset House Committee for three days to discuss each individual bill. However, coalition chairman, Likud MK Yariv Levin said that dozens of hours were scheduled for debate on each bill, which he said was unmatched in the previous two Knessets.