The False Dilemma

The charedi threat to bring down the government

The charedim are finally seriously threatening to bring down the government, due to it not passing an “Enlistment Law.” The reason why such a law has not passed until now was originally due to opposition by Yoav Gallant; since Bibi got rid of him, Yuli Edelstein is the last Likud member standing in the way, and he is more difficult to dislodge.

Typically, there is all kinds of misinformation being spread. So here’s some mythbusting.

The “Enlistment Law”

The so-called “Enlistment Law” (chok giyus) being discussed is not actually an enlistment law at all - it’s the exact opposite, an evasion law. There already is a law of mandatory conscription. The proposed new law is a way of formally exempting most charedim from army service while allegedly encouraging some to enlist, eventually reaching 50%.

“Without Edelstein’s opposition, the government could pass a law that will bring serious change in charedi society!”

This is such a scam. If the charedim were remotely open to any significant number of people drafting - even just a few thousand out of the 80,000 currently exempt - then they would have made this happen already and relieved the pressure on them. They haven’t done this, because they are not open to any concessions at all. The only “Enlistment Law” that Bibi would pass without Edelstein and with charedi acceptance is one with no real enforcement.

“You can’t force charedim to enlist, so there’s no point trying anything different.”

You can’t directly force all the charedim to enlist. But what you can do, very easily, is to stop sending huge sums of money and providing other financial benefits (such as housing lotteries) to those who avoid enlisting. And that will (A) prevent the serious harm to morale that currently exists, (B) stop the drain on the economy, and (C) encourage many charedim to enlist (or at least to work) out of financial necessity. It’s also possible to apply various sanctions, such as denying driver’s licenses and travel, which will result in significant enlistment.

“The complaints about charedim are just a cover, it’s really just a political ploy against Bibi.”

This is true for some people. However, it is not true for most people. And the fact is that the charedi avoidance of army service, along with their drain on the economy, are genuine, enormous problems. The cost to the country, in particular to the reservists and their families, is immense and unsustainable.

“It’s either victory or charedi enlistment!”

This claim is that while it’s unfortunate that charedim don’t serve, it’s necessary to allow it in order to preserve the coalition, which is the only way to win the war. But while this purports to be a practical, reasonable argument, it’s actually nonsense and dangerously misleading.

First of all, “victory” - i.e. getting all the hostages back, destroying Hamas as military and political force, and having Gaza’s security and governance being controlled by someone other than Hamas - is not on the cards anytime soon (if at all). It would take many, many months - more likely years. And it’s just not possible to keep calling up the reservists again and again and again. The toll on their careers, on their marriages, on their family lives, is simply unsustainable. The IDF needs many more soldiers if it is ever going to win.