One opportunity, two tracks

Rabbi Yonatan Reiss, founder of the Haredi hesder yeshivas, argues in an opinion piece that a government with Haredi parties cannot solve the conscription issue, and calls for separating the treatment of Torah scholars from the conscription of Haredim who do not study.

Yonatan Reiss, founder of the 'Chadwata' network of Haredi hesder yeshivas, argues in an opinion piece on ynet that a government in which Haredim are an integral part cannot advance any process in the conscription law. According to him, Haredi public representatives were sent to the government to ensure that yeshiva students are not sent to the army, and any dialogue with them is a maneuver. Reiss calls for separating two tracks: a serious government program to encourage conscription of Haredim who do not study Torah, with investment of resources and infrastructure building, and on the other hand, recognition of Torah study as a foundational value that is not subject to negotiation, while establishing an external oversight mechanism. He warns that the current opportunity is rare and perhaps unique.

One opportunity, two tracks