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The Knesset approved Monday night the latest version of a bill regulating the military conscription of ultra-Orthodox Israelis by a vote of 63-39. Two more votes are required for the bill to become law.
In recent years, the Israel Defense Forces have been paying attention to more meaningful military service by Haredi men, turning more and more to younger, single men rather than recruiting them. # 39; old. The trend is that ultra-Orthodox soldiers look more like non-haredi soldiers in demographic terms. This is apparent from the figures obtained by Haaretz, presented here for the first time.
In 2017, only 15% (442) of the 3,011 inductees to the haredi were married, compared to 61% in 2016, 76% in 2014 and 87% in 2012.
The number that shows the most decrease in the age of recruitment among haredi men is the number of conscripts over 22 years old.
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Of the 3,011 ultra-Orthodox men who were enlisted last year, 2,087 were 20 years old or younger and 213 were 21 years old. Only 23% were 22 years old or older.
By comparison, in 2011, nearly half of all haredi recruits (610 out of 1,280) were over the age of 22.
The figures also show that 32% of the haredi soldiers serve without the support of a family. There are different reasons for this, such as families breaking ties with these men after enlistment, as well as soldiers from marginalized youth groups whose family ties had been broken before and soldiers who had left the religious world. . .
In the coming weeks, a committee led by coalition leader David Amsalem, MP, will review his details. The Haredi representatives want to introduce several changes, the main one being a clause stating that if the haredi public does not reach 85% of targets over three years, the law will be repealed and all yeshiva students will have to enlist immediately.
The ultra-Orthodox want the law not to be repealed immediately but to be returned to the Knesset.
Dr. Gilad Malach, of the Israel Institute of Democracy, said that "we are seeing a tendency to focus on meaningful service, both from conscripts and the Israel Defense Forces."
He says that the age of exemption for the ultra-Orthodox, now at age 24, must be lowered to 22. "If the age is 22 years old," he said. The army will be able to continue to focus on young recruits who will serve in a more meaningful way.High-quality positions.Those who pursue technological streams at a later age will continue to come independently of the law.The shortage of the army is in combat soldiers and combat support.It is there that significant numbers are needed and you only get that from the youngest ones. "
Malach adds, "Today, we know that a useful service helps the army, but also the inductees haredi, as this allows them to better integrate into the world of work since they are coming to an age where they can receive better training. It's a win-win situation. Thus, from a broader perspective, it is important to reduce the exemption age to 22, since most conscripts arrive younger and younger. This will allow them to reach the job market at a younger age. So the army will benefit and the haredi men too, as well as the country and its work force. "
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