PM Netanyahu Adopts IDF Position and will Submit for Cabinet Approval a Plan
to Promote Military and Civic service in the Ultra-Orthodox Sector
PMO 07/01/2011
http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2011/01/spokemigzar070111.htm

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will, on Sunday, 9.1.11, submit for
Cabinet approval, a decision that will enable a significant increase in the
number of ultra-orthodox young men who are drafted for military and civic
service. This is in order to promote equality and a sharing of the security
and economic burden among the various population groups in Israeli society.

The decision was made following a meeting that Prime Minister Netanyahu held
this morning, with Finance minister Yuval Steinitz and GOC Personnel
Maj.-Gen. Avi Zamir.

Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to adopt the recommendations that were
submitted to him by IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi and the IDF
General Staff at their meeting yesterday (Thursday), 6.1.11.

The decision will enable the number of draftees from the ultra-orthodox
sector to double over the next five years. It is expected that the number
of draftees will reach 4,800 by 2015 (2,400 for military service and 2,400
for civic service). It was also agreed that the IDF would create additional
combat frameworks in order to absorb the ultra-orthodox. In order to meet
this goal, the Government will allocate an additional NIS 130 million in
order to create new and unique frameworks for draftees from the
ultra-orthodox sector, and NIS 70 million per annum for developing new civic
service frameworks.

The decision also determines that the age at which ultra-orthodox young men
without children may be enrolled in regular civic service, as an alternative
to military service, will be 26.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also decided to significantly increase and
strengthen the "Shahar" project for the ultra-orthodox population, in which
ultra-orthodox young men serve in IDF technological frameworks for a period
of approximately two years and are trained to enter the civilian labor
market. The Prime Minister, along with the Finance; Industry, Trade and
Labor; Defense; and Science and Technology ministries, also decided to
formulate a program to assist ultra-orthodox young men serving in the IDF
and in civic service, in integrating into the labor market after their
service.

Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that this was an unprecedented and important
decision that will increase the number of ultra-orthodox young men in the
military and in civic service, encourage their integration into the labor
force and help create a more just sharing of the burden in society.