The Israel Parliament today adopted an amendment to the controversial compulsory service law which provides that religious women claiming exemption from compulsory national service must prove their Orthodox observance. The amendment, which was adopted by a vote of 33-19, was introduced by Premier David Ben Gurion.
The government fell last year over the Mapai’s insistence on the introduction of an amendment withdrawing exemption from religious women. At that time the Orthodox parties votes against the government and split the coalition. However, after indecisive national elections another coalition was formed with the Mapai and the Orthodox parties as its mainstay.
The centrist General Zionist, left-wing Mapam and right-wing Herut parties opposed the amendment on the grounds that Israel’s situation with reference to the Arab states demands that its entire manpower be mobilized. They also objected to the “discrimination” in favor of religious women and demanded “equal rights” for all women. The Progressive also opposed the amendment, as did the Communists who objected to “any concessions to the clergy.”
Last night, the House passed the second reading of a bill punishing bribery. The measure provides a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine which shall be fixed at the discretion of the judge. The legislation does not permit the judge to substitute the fine for the prison sentence and vice versa. It also applies to national institutions as well as to individuals and holds both the bribe giver and the bribe taker equally guilty.
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