Zahavasdad
it is obvious there are fundamental disagreements. True, I think no one should support a person who signs or stamp an official paperwork (even one with no particular significance attached, say, a school exam? a university commission?) while being elsewhere – thus opening the door to avoidable problems in the future. Someone is very busy? We understand it. The schedule can’t accommodate an event even though it was arranged a long time ago? too bad, candidates will be rescheduled. But could you imagine your degree being questioned because those who signed it were somewhere else that day? Hey, that’s nothing, compared to a giyur. And does not affect anyone’s children.
But there is no question the issue is much deeper than that. There is no question that our disagreements are irreconciliable.
However, may I remark you write “Perhaps if more civility and respect had occured the current result would never have happend and Bayit HaYudi would have teamed up with Shas and UTJ and not Yesh Atid”. Then I have to point out to you that Shas and UTJ are not “The Haredim”. They are a fraction of a fraction of haredim: are those who both chose to live in EY and hold an Israeli passport, and to participate in elections. Many Israeli haredim do not vote at all, and of course, other haredim do not live in EY and have no intention of making aliyah anytime before Moshiach shows up. We are not even talking of those who think the Medinat to be a misfortune. The fact that Shas and UTJ have been pushed to their current position is a huge change with respect to the past.
One of the reasons I stay away from Israel is that I can discuss with people like you, debate, disagree, but keep basic respect and basic friendship, which I try to do with all human beings that life brings me to meet, jewish or not. What breaks basic respect and basic friendship is when my life starts being affected: if my son gets a draft notice, then disagreements can no longer be ignored, I have to fight. Moreover, while I can expect having to deal with a draft in other countries (most have gotten rid of draft now, but 40 years ago, one conceivably would have had to deal with it and find some way out), in EY it is hard to ignore it’s my own brother who is trying to mold and assimilate our children.
I can’t understand why the arrangements the Arabs enjoy can’t be extended to all citizens of the state. Those who do want to serve, kol hakavod + money + benefits, and if they are not enough, let us increase such benefits. Those who qualify for elite units and receive appropriate security clearance (some Muslim Arabs did too) kol ha kavod and lots of money and benefits, as of course, they are seriously risking their life and this has to be rewarded, or else, no sane person will enroll. Everyone else, let them find a profession they are satisfied with, whatever that is, Torah or secular, and contribute to society. You want to cut down the pittance of support which is given to some? I don’t object. That’s it, those who want to study Torah will do, those who enroll in a secular university will be supported by the taxpayer but I would accept that. Why is that not enough, why nothing short of assimilation and disappearance of the old ghetto jews will do? I can’t understand.