Tal Committee - Dissolution and Report

Dissolution and Report

On 2 July, Netanyahu dissolved the committee following the resignation of former Yisrael Beiteinu and Habayit Hayehudi representative Yaakov Weinroth. An aide to Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz said that there was no need for the prime minister to meet the deputy prime minister to discuss the dissolution as "Netanyahu made up his mind and there is no point in discussing it after the fact," following his claim that he would convene a meeting of the leaders of the ruling coalition party members "in order to draft a proposal that would garner a majority in the Knesset." The aide then also said that "the prime minister knows Kadima's position, and the only reason for calling the meeting is to discuss the framework of the Plesner Committee and its recommendations, including issuing personal sanctions against those who refuse to serve in the IDF." After having carried out the dissolution, an unnamed member of the committee told Ynet that he was "very disappointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to dissolve the committee. We missed a historic opportunity to ease the tensions surrounding one of the most heated disputes in Israeli society." It was also followed by controversy and a threat by Mofaz to have Kadima leave the coalition that it recently joined over the issue itself The move was also criticised as done to placate the two Haredi parties, avoid a new election and incur the wrath of the Arab-Israeli public.

Two days later, the committee issued its report that called for conscripting the Haredi. Netanyahu's met with Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz and other political leaders in regards to the issue. Likud parliamentary leader Ze'ev Elkin said that the differences between the governing coalition two main parties was not big and could be bridged as neither party were opposed to the imposition of personal sanctions on whomever would not take part in national military service. Netanyahu also said that if no agreement was reached by 1 August, the law would be applied universally. If no accord is found it was further speculated that the two Haredi parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, would leave the government and a new election would be called. Upon issue of the report, Plesner said that his "committee met for hundreds of hours, held dozens of meetings, heard dozens of experts, performed exhaustive staff work… in an effort to produce the most comprehensive work on this subject in Israel's history. We have every intention of releasing our findings. lead to a fundamental change in Israeli society by creating a new social treaty that will see more sectors on Israeli society shoulder the burden of service. \We do not wish to trample on any sector's rights. We aim to foster a historic change and create a more cohesive, united society." It also suggested that within four years 80% of yeshiva students who were eligible for conscription would carry out their service. Ynet highlighted the committee's findings as including:

1. Imposing the principle of universal service on all Israeli citizens.
2. Imposing individual liability on anyone trying to evade the service.
3. Offering those serving in the IDF incentives and increased compensation.
4. Formulating an effective enforcement system against those violating draft directives.
5. Mandating the draft of ultra-Orthodox men.
6. Applying the principle of universal service to the Arab sector via National Service opportunities.