Hesder yeshiva students combine army service and Torah study in a five-year program. Though their contributions to the army and society have been widely praised, the army is talking of closing them down.
Slomiansky, in his capacity as faction head of the NRP in the Knesset, wrote:
"The Ben-Bassat Committee, looking into the issue of shortening army service, has recommended the closure of the hesder yeshivot by 2008. The committee expresses the policies of Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz (Kadima), Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Dan Halutz and IDF Personnel Corps Commander Gen. Elazar Stern.
"In light of this recommendation, a meeting was held between the heads of the hesder yeshivot and the MKs of the united National Union-National Religious Party list. The following numbers were reported at the meeting: Some 50 hesder yeshivot are scattered throughout the country and land of Israel. Some 6,000 students study in them, and some 1,200 enlist in the army each year.
"The Defense Ministry, both during the Likud regime and now under the 'rule' of Kadima, is piling up more and more difficulties on these yeshivot. The approach and even tone of speech has changed from consultations to orders, and from thinking together to one-sided commands. The apex, of course, is the recommendation to totally close the yeshivot by 2008.
"At the meeting, various practical and informational measures to change the situation and atmosphere were discussed, but it was clear to all that we are not invulnerable. If we thought that there were some things that were precious assets that no government would ever touch, we were wrong! If we are small and politically weak, then everything can happen. We didn't believe that they would touch Gush Katif, and we also didn't believe that they would touch our flagship, the hesder yeshivot - but the fact is that they are ready to close them down. And so on and so forth...
"Beyond all the local measures that we will take regarding each individual issue, the only comprehensive answer to all these issues is: We must succeed in the elections and become big and strong! This is the only language, unfortunately, that the establishment understands - no values, no principles, just power! This is the field in which we must play and become strong, or else we will be left with only principles and values, but no practical influence! For this reason, our two parties, the National Religious Party and National Union, united, and we expect and hope and are working so that the public should also unite and form a large bloc that will be a real alternative to the regime."
Baruch Marzel, leader of the Hazit party, said in response, "The NRP wants to join up with Olmert in his plan to banish more Jews, and then when the army - including the hesder students - has to take part in the next expulsion, that will surely lead to the dismantling of the hesder yeshivot."
Michael Kleiner, leader of the Herut party, said in response, "When I was a Knesset Member and Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee, and the coalition whip, I worked very hard for all the Zionist yeshivot, and I will do the same in the next Knesset. I believe that the entire rightwing camp is united on this issue, even the Likud... But a basic condition for maintaining the yeshivot is to maintain the State, and we must therefore vote for a party that proposes a way to keep the State strong."
Slomiansky, in his capacity as faction head of the NRP in the Knesset, wrote:
"The Ben-Bassat Committee, looking into the issue of shortening army service, has recommended the closure of the hesder yeshivot by 2008. The committee expresses the policies of Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz (Kadima), Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Dan Halutz and IDF Personnel Corps Commander Gen. Elazar Stern.
"In light of this recommendation, a meeting was held between the heads of the hesder yeshivot and the MKs of the united National Union-National Religious Party list. The following numbers were reported at the meeting: Some 50 hesder yeshivot are scattered throughout the country and land of Israel. Some 6,000 students study in them, and some 1,200 enlist in the army each year.
"The Defense Ministry, both during the Likud regime and now under the 'rule' of Kadima, is piling up more and more difficulties on these yeshivot. The approach and even tone of speech has changed from consultations to orders, and from thinking together to one-sided commands. The apex, of course, is the recommendation to totally close the yeshivot by 2008.
"At the meeting, various practical and informational measures to change the situation and atmosphere were discussed, but it was clear to all that we are not invulnerable. If we thought that there were some things that were precious assets that no government would ever touch, we were wrong! If we are small and politically weak, then everything can happen. We didn't believe that they would touch Gush Katif, and we also didn't believe that they would touch our flagship, the hesder yeshivot - but the fact is that they are ready to close them down. And so on and so forth...
"Beyond all the local measures that we will take regarding each individual issue, the only comprehensive answer to all these issues is: We must succeed in the elections and become big and strong! This is the only language, unfortunately, that the establishment understands - no values, no principles, just power! This is the field in which we must play and become strong, or else we will be left with only principles and values, but no practical influence! For this reason, our two parties, the National Religious Party and National Union, united, and we expect and hope and are working so that the public should also unite and form a large bloc that will be a real alternative to the regime."
Baruch Marzel, leader of the Hazit party, said in response, "The NRP wants to join up with Olmert in his plan to banish more Jews, and then when the army - including the hesder students - has to take part in the next expulsion, that will surely lead to the dismantling of the hesder yeshivot."
Michael Kleiner, leader of the Herut party, said in response, "When I was a Knesset Member and Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee, and the coalition whip, I worked very hard for all the Zionist yeshivot, and I will do the same in the next Knesset. I believe that the entire rightwing camp is united on this issue, even the Likud... But a basic condition for maintaining the yeshivot is to maintain the State, and we must therefore vote for a party that proposes a way to keep the State strong."