The government decided today to continue its policy of exempting yeshiva students from military service. In doing so, it resisted efforts by Tourism Minister Moshe Kol either to abandon the policy or transform it into something more flexible.
Kol, who has attempted to alter the government’s attitude on this matter over the past four years, has received little support from other ministers. Kol had proposed that religious boys be obligated to serve in the army during a five-year period while they studied. Basic training would be of a shorter duration than the normal three years, but the boys would be on call for the entire five-year period. This arrangement operates at some yeshivas at present, officials said.
The Cabinet last acted on the matter in October of 1968 when it appointed a committee, headed by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, which moved to continue the policy.
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