Answering MoshebenDovid who asked: “Can a Chareidi yeshiva get the same terms as Merkaz (or hesder)? Will the IDF have Neteurei Karta soldiers? “
Hareidim aren’t interested in the hesder yeshivot program as it existed in the past, and certainly not with the new cut backs (remember the movement leading to conscription is also anti-hesder — it’s Torah they are opposed to, not just hareidim). One probably could offer a hesder-type program that some hareidim would be interested (perhaps arrange for half a day military, half a day learning throughout military service, similar to someone who has a part time job while in yeshiva which isn’t unheard of). But that would be a radical change in hesder, and won’t work if conscription is involved, and would not interest anyone committed to full time learning, nor anyone anti-zionist. If conscription is abolished, it will be time to discuss whether a “hesder” could be developed for Bnei Torah who are interested in military service.
Neturei Karta people will refuse no matter what you offer since their objection is to state, and its wars. Since from their perspective the IDF is guilty of illegally spilling blood as part of their prohibited war, one must give up one’s life rather than serve in the army. It isn’t a matter of learning Torah. They hold that even an unemployed Am ha-Aretz should refuse to serve since the war is prohibited by Torah. One is increasingly seeing many hareidim who two years ago were quite content to take zionist money and be part of Israel, now sounding more and more like Neturei Karta. I would not be shocked in Neturei Karta offers a “thank you” banquet for Lapid and Bennett. Revitalizing the anti-zionist hareidim is undoubtedly the stupidest thing the current coalition could have done.