Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi asserted that the occupation army should remain as diverse as possible and include members of all Israeli sectors, countering calls from coalition members to legislate an exemption law.
Adding to the debate over compulsory military service is the ongoing protest movement against the government’s judicial reform, with reservists refusing to perform voluntary service and training.
“The State of Israel must, in order to maintain its security, continue to support the People’s Army model, which requires the recruitment of as many segments of the Israeli population as possible,” Halevi said in his speech at a military ceremony on Wednesday.
The Israeli commander also stressed the importance of “social cohesion”, and rejected any attempts to politicize the army.
Israeli Housing Minister and chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction Yitzhak Goldknopf demanded that legislation to exempt seminary students from military service be passed in the next parliamentary session this winter.
Goldknopf called it a mistake not to have passed the law earlier. The minister previously threatened to bring down the coalition government if the legislative amendment was not adopted. He said that legislation of the judicial reform plan was on hold until the exemption law was passed.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid supported the Chief of Staff’s position, asserting that “everyone must serve, without exception”. He also criticized attempts to circumvent military service, arguing that it could compromise the integrity of the Israeli army.
The question of military service remains a divisive issue in the Zionist entity. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried to moderate the proposed law, he has been met with refusal from the ultra-Orthodox parties, who insist that the legislation must conform to what was signed in the coalition agreement.
Source: Israeli media
