BICOM

The Knesset is today scheduled for a final vote on a bill which would mandate ultra-Orthodox seminary students to enlist in the military or face criminal sanctions. It is one of three items of legislation which the opposition has decided not to debate or vote on in protest at coalition tactics, meaning that the bill is almost certain to become law.

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 deliberated and approved the bill, 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.

However, the controversial bill is expected to face little or no resistance in today’s vote. Opposition MKs are boycotting debate and voting on the three bills this week, in protest over a coalition agreement which saw coalition parties agree to treat the bills as one legislative package, effectively guaranteeing the passage of all. Although Jewish Home MK Yoni Chetboun yesterday announced that he would oppose the military draft law, his is expected to be a lone dissenting voice.

Due to the absence of opposition MKs, another of the controversial items, the governance bill was approved yesterday by the Knesset by a vote of 67 to 0 with no abstentions. The new law increases the electoral threshold from 2 to 3.25 per cent, which supporters say will lead to more effective government, but opponents argue will disenfranchise minority groups and opinions. Meanwhile, the referendum bill, which would enshrine a referendum on withdrawal from Israeli sovereign territory as a Basic Law, will come to a vote tomorrow.