«Israeli» War Minister: Anyone Over 18 Must Enlist

Local Editor

The "Israeli" entity's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman proclaimed Wednesday that "Anyone over the age of 18 must enlist," only one day after the High Court of Justice struck down an amendment regulating yeshiva draft exemptions.

Speaking at an event marking for the Jewish New Year, Lieberman stressed that "We're not waging war on the Haredi parties or the High Court." Rather, he said that "We're trying to take a common sense approach to the problem."

The High Court decreed on Tuesday that the most recent amendment to the Conscription Law-providing army draft exemptions to a large number of yeshiva students-be canceled within a year.

The HCJ's ruling stated that a previous Knesset decision that sought to provide many 18-year-old Haredim with a pass on the mandatory "Israeli" Occupation Force [IOF] draft, was "disproportionate" and "harmed equality" within "Israeli" society.

"We are compelled to return the matter back to the Knesset," concluded Supreme Court Chief Justice Miriam Naor. "At this stage, and after years of trial and error, it is clear that it is no longer enough to make do with non-binding and non-enforceable arrangements whose outcome is unknown."

In an apparent comparison to the backlash staged by US citizens to the Vietnam War, Lieberman stated that "In the United States, thousands demonstrate[d-ed] outside of the White House, not understanding why American soldiers have to die in the jungles of southeast Asia."

Despite such criticisms against soldiers' deaths in battle, Lieberman stated that he believes that "people who are tightly-knit and filled with motivation eventually win the day."

Speaking of the HCJ's Tuesday decision, Lieberman posited that "the guiding parameter for us is definitely national strength."

"We're definitely talking about service for everyone," Lieberman made plain. "Service for everyone, not more first-class and second-class [distinctions]. Every young person reaching the age of 18 has to either enlist or perform national service. It cannot be any other way."

Lieberman then clarified that his statements pertain to members of all faiths-Jews, Christians and Muslims. "I don't understand why a Haredi man can't serve in the army. And if he doesn't want to, then [he may go into] national service. There are enough challenges in any field," the minister added.

Israel's political arena has been all aflutter in the 24 hours since the majority decision-eight of the nine judges in favor-reached by the expanded panel discussing the petition.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team