In a significant development, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yoel “Yuli” Edelstein is set to submit the finalized draft of the proposed military conscription law on Thursday. The legislation has been coordinated and agreed upon with the leaders of the chareidi factions and is expected to be passed within the next few weeks.
Matzav.com has learned that Edelstein has already informed senior members of the chareidi parties of his intention to present them with the draft version tomorrow. The draft is based on the principles agreed upon roughly three weeks ago during a series of high-stakes negotiations that preceded the preliminary vote on dissolving the Knesset.
Following its delivery to the chareidi representatives, the draft law will then be distributed to the rest of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee members.
Sources indicate that the coalition, responding to pressure from the chareidi factions and in coordination with Edelstein, intends to fast-track deliberations on the bill over the next two weeks. The goal is to conclude committee discussions and bring the legislation for its second and third readings in the full Knesset before the end of the summer session, which wraps up in less than a month.
However, it is important to note that once the draft is publicized, chareidi leaders will still need to submit it for review and approval by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah.
Meanwhile, growing pressure is being exerted by prominent rabbanim who oppose the bill’s current stipulations, including a clause mandating 50% enlistment from each draft cohort within four years and the implementation of both personal and institutional financial sanctions.
If the bill does indeed pass in the coming weeks, United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchok Goldknopf is expected to return to his former role as Minister of Housing, meaning Meir Porush would vacate the post—just weeks after stepping into it.
{Matzav.com Israel}