New Agreement Reached on Yeshiva Bochur Draft Law

An agreement has been reached between Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and UTJ Chairman Yitzchok Goldknopf regarding the formulation and promotion of a new Draft Law which would stop the attempt to draft all yeshiva bochurim into the army.

By YWN and Anash.org

A report in the Hebrew-language Hamodia newspaper, claims that an agreement has been reached between Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and UTJ Chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf regarding the formulation and promotion of a new Draft Law, which would stop the attempt to draft all yeshiva bochurim into the army.

The law, which is expected to advance in the coming days, aims to uphold the role of yeshiva bochurim and recognize the value of Torah learning for Israel’s security. According to the report, the proposed law “will recognize the importance of Torah study and of Torah students and will thwart the harm being done to yeshiva students.”

This meeting follows the recent letter by Eretz Yisroel’s leading Lubavitch mashpiim which warned bochurim not to appear at the draft office and not to try to leave the country if they received a notice. As is well known, the Rebbe opposed the drafting of yeshiva bochurim to the army, saying that their Torah learning was critical for the security of Eretz Yisroel, and even more so than the soldiers’ service.

Goldknopf reportedly told Netanyahu that the law must pass all three readings in the Knesset before Rosh Hashanah.

The meeting between the two leaders, held at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, included senior officials from both offices and resulted in a commitment to hold a follow-up meeting next week to monitor the law’s progress.

The Draft Law, however, has faced opposition from some members of Netanyahu’s Likud party. MKs Amichai Chikli, Moshe Sa’ada, and Dan Illouz wrote a letter to the Prime Minister following the outbreak of the war, expressing their concerns. They argued that it is unfair for certain segments of Israeli society to bear the burden of security while “others” – referring to the exemption of yeshiva bochurim from military service – continue their daily routines.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said that he won’t support the Draft Law unless it gains broad support, including from members of the opposition.