Towards agreement on law: criminal sanctions to be imposed

The voting marathon will start from tomorrow for conscription law and as of today (Sunday), the law does not contain any references to criminal sanctions, but the committee chairman MK Ayelet Shaked, is holding marathon talks with Yesh Atid toward a final issue of the bill.

Tomorrow the Commission of Equality of Burden will complete its work to formulate a proposed amendment to the Defense Service Law, the vote would last three days. Wording of the law does not yet have all the references to criminal sanctions, but remains open to allow consensus on the issue.

"There are still no agreements," said MK Ayelet Shaked to Behadrey Haredim, "We hope to reach agreements which are acceptable to both parties and where the wind blows."

The text of the bill is 30 pages detailing the measures taken within the framework proposed recruitment of yeshiva students to the IDF.

The bill details a line of economic sanctions imposed on yeshiva students who will not comply with the law, including: eliminating Social Security benefits, reducing subsidies for day care centers, eliminating of discounts in municipal taxes, eliminating housing benefits provided by the Ministry of Housing, eliminating the discount for a mortgage and lack of financing for institutions in which they are studying.

With regard to criminal sanctions, it is stated that "this clause will be drafted in accordance with the decision of the Commission once a decision is made on incentives."

In an interview with 'Meet the Press' on Channel 2, Finance Minister and chairman of Yesh Atid Yair Lapid addressed the service law being formulated and turbulent demonstrations held over the weekend in the Haredi sector. "If there are no criminal sanctions - we will quit the government, " Lapid said, adding: "We will not stay in the government that will not pass the equality of burden law, and the law should be real."

Lapid referred to the impact of the law on the Haredi public, and said that so far 90% of the graduates of the military service in the Haredi sector integrated into the labor market. According to him, in one on one conversations with young Haredi people he meets he is getting encouragement to support his way. "Who would give me one shekel for every haredi youngster who meets me and tells me to continue this way, we have to enter the job market."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!