The Ichud Yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael, an organization which is affiliated with the ‘Old Yishuv’ in Yerushalayim and the Eida Chareidis, turned to Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber and Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit against the Vaad Yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael.

It appears their actions are related to ongoing coalition talks and the efforts to pass a new draft law.

In the letter sent by attorney Renato Yarak, they are demanding that whatever form of the new draft law is passed, it includes authorizing an outside body in addition to the Vaad Yeshivos to declare one is a ‘ben torah’ and therefore entitled to a deferment from military service. The Ichud Yeshivos has already turned to the High Court of Justice, but the High Court rejected the petition, stating that as of yet, there is no draft law, so the petition is premature.

In the letter, the attorney accuses the committee “exercising its authority as a monopolistic body that pretends to act as a kind of governmental authority, while at the same time exploiting its power for the worse.”

He accused the Deputy Attorney General of not responding. “The Defense Ministry continues to allow the Dror Committee to act as a kind of governmental arm on its behalf,” he says, noting that although every young man is entitled to apply to the Defense Ministry, only the Vaad Yeshivos appears on the form as a body representing talmidei yeshivos.

In conclusion, he writes that “my client’s request to the Ministry of Defense was rejected without any reason, and it seems that the reason for this lies in the Ministry of Defense’s intention to continue to leave all the powers in the hands of the Vaad Yeshivos.

“Therefore, we again seek your intervention in all matters relating to the flaws found in the conduct of the Committee, including the significant powers and the broad discretion granted to it in practice without any statutory basis.”

“Insofar as it deems fit to grant certain powers to external bodies, we shall again request that this be regulated in equal legislation, so that the committee will be granted similar powers to other bodies such as my client,” attorney Renato Yarak wrote.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)