Knesset Members Pass Law to Conscript Ultra-Orthodox Jews

Local Editor

"Israeli" Knesset members on Wednesday voted through a law which will compel ultra-Orthodox Jews to either serve in the military or perform national civilian service.

The bill was voted through by 65 to 1 in a poll broadcast on "Israel's" Knesset television channel.

The lone dissenting vote was cast by an MP from the far-right so-called "Jewish Home" who broke coalition discipline to oppose the law.

Opposition parties within the 120-seat Knesset had earlier announced they would not participate in the vote.

The "Israel" cabinet last year agreed to end a practice under which tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox were exempted from military service if they were in full-time study at a "Jewish seminary.

The new legislation stipulates that ultra-Orthodox men must either join the army or perform civilian service, in a law which will go into force in 2017.
The law also includes a clause stipulating sanctions against draft dodgers - including imprisonment - in a move which has enraged the ultra-Orthodox leadership who said it would be tantamount to jailing people for practicing their faith.

Military service is compulsory in the Zionist entity, with men serving three years and women two.

Earlier this month, more than 300,000 ultra-Orthodox took to the streets of Occupied al-Quds in a mass prayer vigil to protest against the impending legislation.

Because of their high birth rate, the ultra-Orthodox community has since swelled to make up roughly 10 percent of the "Israeli" population of just over eight million, and continues to be the fastest-growing sector in "Israel".

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team