Become a Member
Israel

Orthodox get IDF exemption

December 22, 2010 13:38

ByAnshel Pfeffer, Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

A series of reforms of yeshivah students' stipends and the announcement of their exemption from army service have become the subject of a coalition disagreement and a rift between the government and the IDF.

The cabinet voted on Sunday 14-8 in favour of a plan formulated by the Prime Minister's Office to continue paying stipends to yeshivah students for another five years, gradually cutting off the payments when they reach the age of 29.

The monthly stipends of 1,040 shekels (£187) for married yeshivah students was the subject of a Supreme Court ruling last year, which stipulated that the payments were discriminatory, since married university students did not benefit from similar stipends.

In addition, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is trying to pass another reform under which yeshivah students, who previously deferred their army service indefinitely as long as they continued to study, will receive a full exemption at the age of 22 and be able to leave yeshivah and begin working if they undertake a year's national service first.