The government is not pushing the idea of equitable service for all in order to persecute Hareidi Jews, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday. Speaking at a meeting of his Atzma'ut faction, Barak said that he hoped that the latest round of media and political interest in the Tal Law would lead to results, instead of just discussion. “We want to bring about a fundamental change in the service ethic of Hareidi Jews, and eventually of Arabs, and ensure that all citizens share in the burden of helping the state,” Barak said.
With that, he added, “we are not interested in persecuting the Hareidim. There is no need to aggressively impose anything on anyone. It may be possible to come to an understanding with many of them.”