Gafni to Barak: 'Send policemen to Ponevez"

Foreign affairs and security committee headed by MK Roni Bar-On of Kadima, met this morning (Monday) in the presence of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, chairman of Kadima Shaul Mofaz, MK Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev and Yisrael Eichler of Yahadut Hatorah and Nissim Ze'ev of Shas.

The meeting dealt with the hottest issue at hand: the enlistment of yeshiva students and their legal situation.

The defense minister made it clear that from the moment the cancellation of Tal Law was announced on August 1st – the Security Service Law applies in retrospect from '86, that is compulsory enlistment for everyone. Barak made it clear, however, that the Ministry of Defense could wait a year before the actual implementation of the draft.

MK Bar-On said that at least 8 months of delay are required because of the up coming elections – until the consisting of government. MK Yohanan Plesner, who attended the meeting, noted that Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar changed the budgeting criteria for yeshiva students last month, so they can be funded regardless of the subject of recruitment.

MK Yisrael Eichler argued that the High Court exceeded its authority when it canceled the Tal Law, and that it is not under its authority to overturn laws. "Such a situation where the court intervenes in the actions of the legislature may bring the State of Israel to the situation of Syria," said Eichler.

At this stage, the Defense Minister could not resist and answered Eichler that that his claim is populism which is appropriate for cameras, and the program 'Popolitika' (in which Eichler was a permanent member of the panel of the program - SR).

Deputy Attorney General who was present at the meeting argued that this is a question of a vacuum. According to her, it is a question of 'exposed nerves of the population in Israel, and the keyword is to understand the complexity. "

MK Moshe Gafni attacked those present sharply, focusing on Barak and the Kadima members: 'I am ashamed to hear what you say, for all these years, everyone knew that there is a Jewish value to Torah study." Gafni added and announced that he "invites each of those present to see the yeshiva world, see that in Ponevez Yeshiva they learn not only at 12 noon time, but at 12 at night too."

"You live on another planet or do it because of the elections, send the police there if it will add seats for Kadima and Atzmaut. An election campaign was forced on me, we are a small party, I work hard but in any case they vote for Shas. Probably in the next government we will not be – for we are once in the opposition and once in the coalition," Gafni landed a blow, and continued: "The army acts shamefully, a yeshiva boy turned to me, and I received many requests in this style, that women soldiers are interviewing them against their beliefs."

At this point Ehud Barak once again intervened and promised that the army will make an effort to prevent such things.

Sar Shalom Gerbi, head of the civil service, said: "Since August 1, there have been many applications by Hareidim who want to volunteer, but legally we are now denied to accept them." Gerbi said that in his opinion a government decision on this issue is sufficient, and one does not need a law.

The deputy Legal Advisor promised to check such a possibility.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!