The government decided in its weekly meeting Sunday to place the Civilian National Service Administration under the auspices of the Science Ministry, and resolved to enlarge the number of civilians who serve in the National Service program. The government “sees great importance” in the program, the resolution said.
By placing the program under the care of Science Minister Prof. Daniel Hershkovitz, head of the Jewish Home Party (formerly the National Religious Party), the government made it clear that it is reversing the previous government’s policy toward the program.
Yuli Tamir of Labor, the previous Minister of Education, had vowed to take the “National Service girls” as they are called out of the nation’s schools. The young female volunteers of the National Service come from the national-religious sector and, while averse to serving in the army for reasons of modesty and not compelled to do so, wish to serve the country in other capacities. They usually volunteer for service in childcare, as assistants in hospitals, in special education and as teachers, bringing traditional Jewish values into the school system.
Tamir planned to completely cancel the young religious women’s presence in the school system beginning next year. 3,000 young women who had already been assigned to National Service positions in schools were left in suspense after Tamir’s statements, unsure whether they would be able to fulfill their dream of volunteering. National religious leaders were up in arms, and MK Yitzchak Levi (NRP) asked then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to save the program “from Tamir’s claws.”
It turned out that the new Prime Minister did just that.
The government said that it plans to enlarge the number of young adults serving in the program. The ministers were presented with a report that said that thousands of Arabs are interested in National Service as an alternative to the military service from which they are exempt. Red tape prevents these Arabs from serving, the report said.
“Sharing the burden of service is the right solution for Israeli society and will reduce social gaps,” the government agreed. It also decided to hold a special session devoted to the subject of National Service in the future.