Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is looking for a way out as efforts continue to amend the nation�s draft law, seeking to make it increasingly difficult for frum women to receive a deferment from IDF service. The prime minister realizes advancing such a move is a deal-breaker with chareidi parties, and such a move would result in an immediate coalition crisis.

In accordance with the bill sponsored by MK (Kadima) Yoel Hasson, a female seeking a draft deferment would have to present documentation attesting to her years in yeshiva. The military will be empowered to doubt such a declaration and move ahead with enlisting the female candidate. In addition, chareidi MKs object because a female who is just becoming frum and unable to show yeshiva documentation would not have any protection.

Even though the female would be entitled to appeal a draft decision, the committee is comprised of military personnel and a retired judge points out MK (Yahadut HaTorah) R� Eliezer Moses and he feels this forum it not too likely to exhibit a measure of understanding favoring the women�s position. He insists that at the very least, a dayan or rav must be a member of this appeal panel.

Moses has assumed an active role, and in recent weeks he has meet on a number of occasions with Justice Minister Yaakov Ne�eman, seeking to find a solution.

During the last cabinet meeting, it was decided to establish a committee to probe the matter. Serving on the committee are Ne�eman, Minister of Housing (Shas) Ariel Atias, Deputy Defense Minister (Labor) Matan Vilnai, MK (Yahadut HaTorah) R� Moshe Gafne, Coalition Whip (Likud) MK Ze�ev Elkin, MK Moses Cabinet Secretary Tzvi Hauser and a representative of the IDF�s Personnel Branch.

Despite meeting for hours, the committee members have to date failed to reach a consensus. Moses announced that the bill as it stands today is unacceptable to his party and moving ahead with it would represent a violation of the coalition agreement.

Regarding the draft of women stated Moses, �gedolei yisrael stated this is �hereg v�al ya�avor� and the party remains opposed and there is no way to make such a move �kosher� since it is against halacha�. Moses added that if the current bill is presented �as is�, he will demand the prime minister call for coalition discipline in line with the coalition agreement, compelling coalition members to oppose it.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)