Israel to Double Haredi Enlistment

On Sunday, the Israeli government will be asked to approve a plan expected to double the amount of ultra Orthodox Jews, or haredim, serving in both the army and civil services within the next five years.

According to Ynet, the plan proposes that 2,400 yeshiva students be enlisted in 2011, half to the army and half to civil service.

A year later, the number is set to rise to 3,000, and by 2015 the plan includes 4,800 enlisted men and women.

There are currently around 5,500 18-year-old yeshiva students in Israel, and in 2015 there are expected to be close to 7,400.

Those who put forth the plan hope that 65% of this community will have performed some manner of service by age 28.

As their service, the students will be allowed to choose between the IDF, police, prison service, firefighters, paramedics, and other rescue services.

The plan also overrides a secretive bill passed last summer, stating that ultra-Orthodox men over the age of 22 may be released from service if they have two or more children.

The motion was aimed at promoting the incorporation of these men into the workforce, but the IDF opposed it.

Now, according to the current plan, haredim aged 22-23 will be sent to serve in the security forces, while those who have children will be sent to regular civil service.

The team who put forth the proposal claim it should serve to “speed up their [haredim] inclusion in the workforce, thus increasing equality and their part in the economic burden.”