Avi Mimran, a prominent Haredi journalist, suggests that reaching an agreement on the contentious ultra-Orthodox military draft law might be more straightforward than many believe.
"I see a clear path out of this enlistment quagmire through legislation," Mimran stated. "But for now, we're stuck in a [vicious] cycle because no one has had the courage to cut to the chase and say, 'Look, we're talking about 3,000 to 4,000 ultra-Orthodox recruits annually. That's the realistic profile. Let's draft a law around these numbers, present it to the Supreme Court, and have the Attorney General review it.'"
Mimran expressed frustration with what he sees as decades of unproductive dialogue. "We've been going in circles on this for 70 years. It's time to break the deadlock," he urged. The journalist called for a more pragmatic approach from both Haredi representatives and military officials.
"If you're representing the Haredi community, lay your cards on the table. What are you willing and able to commit to?" Mimran challenged. "And to the IDF, be clear about your needs and expectations regarding Haredi enlistment. I bet you'll find there's more common ground than you think."
The issue of ultra-Orthodox military service has been a flashpoint in Israeli politics for generations. While most Jewish Israelis are required to serve in the military, the ultra-Orthodox have historically been exempt to pursue religious studies. This exemption has been a source of resentment for many in the secular community who view it as unfair.
Mimran's comments come at a time when the Israeli government is under pressure to formulate a new draft law that would increase ultra-Orthodox participation in military service while respecting the community's religious sensitivities.
Previous attempts to pass such legislation have met with fierce resistance from both ultra-Orthodox political parties and secular hardliners.
As the debate continues, Mimran's voice adds a note of optimism to what has often seemed an intractable problem.