The Knesset, after heated debate that lasted most of the night, voted 54-45 in favor of a bill that exempts religious young women from military service merely on their statement that they are observant. The bitterly contested measure was rammed through by Likud and its religious coalition partners. The ultra- Orthodox Aguda Israel which regards national service for women as sinful, had threatened to withdraw from the coalition if the bill was defeated.
The Knesset debate was marked by lengthy filibusters by opponents of exemption, heckling and cat-calls which, at times, threw the chamber into pandemonium. “The Knesset is a dish-rag,” some shouted. “Agudat Israel are parasites”; “scandal”; “lies,” were some of the milder epithets. Opponents of the bill called it “a law which teaches people to lie.”
Although religious young women always have been excused from military service, they had to pass a rigorous screening process to certify that they were, indeed, religious before exemption was granted. Under the new law, it will be granted automatically to anyone who says she observes the Sabbath and the kashrut laws. This, according to opponents, will encourage many nonobservant women to lie to avoid military service since their claims are not subject to investigation.
The Aguda yielded to one compromise. A young woman who lives with Orthodox parents can claim exemption even if non-observant but must prove to a panel that she lives at home. Labor MK Yossi Sarid disclosed during the debate that the composition of the panel has been agreed to in advance by Likud and the Aguda.
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