Knesset debate: Are 'out of the question' discriminated against in the army compared to ultra-Orthodox soldiers?

August 5, 2020   

Do former Haredim who enlist in the IDF fall between the lines? The IDF recognizes Haredim, recognizes secularists, recognizes religious-nationalists, but what is in between them - the IDF has difficulty distinguishing. Regular income from National Insurance? Check your eligibility for a monthly pension today This was revealed in a discussion held in the subcommittee on lone soldiers in the Immigration and Absorption Committee. If you do what he did, there's a good chance you'll be settled in life. Want to too? According to Alex Kushnir of Yisrael Beiteinu, chairman of the subcommittee, re-enlistees are discriminated against in relation to Haredi soldiers during the selection process, service, and opportunities to complete their education. Kushnir emphasized that a soldier on the Haredi track serves for two years and is then entitled to a year to complete his education and receive family payments. Before being drafted, he is sorted in a unique way that allows him to realize his potential - but a soldier who re-enlists falls between the ranks. "The vast majority of them are ostracized by their families and do not have the tools to cope and integrate into society. Those who re-enlist are not entitled to a unique selection process and thus do not realize their potential, are forced to fight to be recognized as a lone soldier, and are not entitled to any process to complete their education. The IDF is losing quality soldiers with leadership skills." Brigadier General Amir Wadmani, head of the IDF's Planning and Personnel Division, emphasized that in all treatment of lone soldiers, there is no difference between Haredim and "those who are leaving due to a question," and according to him, in recent weeks, staff work has been completed to handle "those who are leaving due to a question," so that such a soldier will be allowed to defer conscription in order to complete his education, he will undergo a personal interview to test his abilities for selection, and retests will be conducted to verify his level. In addition, the commander's opinion of the soldier - and not just his personal data - will determine his referral to an officer position. He spoke about preparing officers and NCOs for the terms of service to get to know this population, and invited the former Haredi soldiers who participated in the discussion to meet with him and resolve these difficulties. According to IDF data, 172 of the Haredi soldiers were defined as lone soldiers in 2017, 300 in 2018, and only 113 in 2019. In addition, in 2017, 1,315 graduates of Haredi education served in the IDF, of whom 543 were in the Haredi track and 772 in the general army. In 2018, 1,788 served, of whom 880 were in the Haredi track and 908 in other units. In the first half of 2019, 983 graduates of Haredi education served, of whom 555 were in the Haredi track. According to Dr. Ayla Eliyahu, a researcher at the Knesset Information and Research Center, Haredi soldiers who enlist in the tracks Those designated for the ultra-Orthodox are entitled to an intensive program to complete their education. 18-21 year olds completing their education towards the end of their service, 21-28 year olds or married men studying engineering or technical studies before or during their service, and an academic reserve track before their service. Sara Gazit, formerly from a Breslev Hasidic family in Beitar Illit, claimed that those who have graduated from an ultra-Orthodox education are disappointed by the attitude of the army and the commanders' lack of understanding and alienation towards the process they went through, which leads them to a feeling of frustration and unwillingness to integrate into Israeli society. Dan Shoshani, a former student of the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, spoke about his rejection from service in the commando brigade, and the lack of a supportive environment in preparation for service, during it, and upon discharge. According to him, the army refuses to integrate former ultra-Orthodox people into completing their education, and this concerns approximately 1,900 soldiers and men. Benny Shaked, a former Gur Hasid who served in the Golani Patrol, claimed that all of his rights as a graduate of Haredi education to complete his education were denied to him.