One of the major grievances of the so-called Israeli “Black Panthers” has been removed with the agreement of Defense Minister Moshe Dayan to end the exclusion of youths with criminal records from military induction. Dayan’s decision was revealed by Rabbi Michael Jacob Hazani, Minister of Social Welfare. The Army’s practice of rejecting convicted youths was based on considerations of economy–their enlistment cost more than they were worth to the service–and of morale. But those youths found it very hard to become rehabilitated, since potential employers want to see applicants’ military-discharge certificates before hiring them. Special plans have now been developed, in conjunction with the Social Welfare Ministry, to enlist convicted youths into the military and have them carefully watched by social workers. The Israeli “Panthers”–who have demonstrated against poverty and have the support of extreme Israeli Leftists, but have not been linked to the Black Panther Party in the United States–announced Thursday that they had asked Premier Golda Meir for and interview and would fast in front of the Western Wall if it was not granted. A spokesman for Mrs. Meir said she had left town for the Passover holiday before the Panthers’ request arrived, and that it would be submitted to her when she returned today.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
