I’m sure that I will be called naïve by my critics. Especially those in in Israel that are closer to the situation than I. But I remain unconvinced. Not because I am a ‘Lapid lover’. But because I try and look at things objectively based on the facts as I see and understand them. Let us examine some of those facts to see just how true these accusations are.
First let us set up the problem. An entire segment of Israeli society was up to this point exempt from any kind of service at all – military or national. This is based on similar situations in other civilzed countries. Divinity students in civilized societies like the United States have always been exempted because of their special calling.
I actually agree with that type of exemption. What I do not agree with is when an entire population of a of a huge segment of society uses it. True… all Charedim are enrolled in yeshivas. But it cannot be the case that every single male member of that society has as his purpose in life – full time Torah study. But that is what Charedim will tell you. The only way someone ends up not doing so is if they are at some level ‘Off the Derech’. The rest stay in Yeshivos for many years no matter how suited they are to the task.
Divinity exemptions should be given only to the elite who truly are the bright lights of Torah… those who will contribute to the world of Torah Knowledge by their continued study. The draft law recognizes this and will exempt such students. There will continue to be divinity exemptions. The only questions that remains is how many and how will they be chosen? Men of good will should be able to work that out. This is apparently Lapid’s position too.
What about the severe sanction of jail for draft dodgers? That was the option chosen by the Shaked committee of the Kenesset whose mission it is to craft new draft legislation. This was what Lapid lobbied for as opposed to a lighter financial penalty suggested by others. Does supporting this make one anti Charedi? Not in my view. There should be no difference in the penalty between religious and secular draft dodgers. Either everyone gets a financial penalty for dodging the draft or everybody goes to jail. To treat Charedim differently is to perpetuate an inequity.
Why am I so pro drafting Charedim? The primary issue for me is and always has been being put in harm’s way. I have NEVER heard a single satisfactory response to the question of why all citizens should not be subject to the same possibility of risk. Why should any entire segment get to be exempt from that?
The argument that the army doesn’t need Charedim; that actual combat missions require only a small segment of the actual armed services in Israel and that there are more than enough serving in that capacity now – does not answer the question! Unless I hear a satisfactory answer to this, I remain with the opinion that Charedim should indeed be put into that pool in similar proportion to everyone else. Either that or eliminate the draft and make the army voluntary. I personally think it can work. But that is not going to happen.
So is Lapid anti religious? In my mind the evidence says no, despite some of the angry anti Charedi rehtoric attributed to him. I don’t really blame him for fits of anger when he is constantly being attacked as being evil Incarnate by Charedi rabbinic leaders and their surrogates in the Knesset!