Gallant set to oppose Rule of Continuity for haredi draft law

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is set to vote against the Rule of Continuity for the haredi draft law at the vote in the Knesset plenum on Monday, The Jerusalem Post has learned. 

The Rule of Continuity enables the Knesset to advance a bill that has been passed in a first reading, but its legislation was stopped due to the Knesset's dissolution.

The passing of the Rule of Continuity would allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance the haredi conscription law that passed its first reading in January 2022 during the Lapid-Bennett government.

What does the January 2022 bill propose?

According to the January 2022 haredi draft bill, the exemption age would rise to 22 after two years and would be subsequently raised to 23 one year later.

In addition, a 21-year-old haredi would be able to join the national emergency and rescue system. The bill also offered two routes for haredim to enlist in the IDF: a shortened service of three weeks or three months, after which soldiers would be transferred to reserve duty. 

The bill also proposed recruitment aims, which, if not met by yeshivas, could result in financial sanctions. However, it stipulated that individuals who would not enlist would not be financially sanctioned. 

The bill also proposed a gradual sanctioning of yeshivas, beginning with a 20% decrease in budget, which would grow following several consecutive years of failing to meet the targets. 

Eliav Breuer contributed to this article.