“We are members of the coalition and as such I ask that you respect us," United Torah Judaism (UTJ) Chairman Rabbi Eliezer Menachem Moses said during a government debate on no-confidence measures Monday: "We oppose as a matter of principle any change in the law regarding recruitment of girls [to the IDF].”
The subject came up in recent weeks after MK Yisrael Hasson of Kadima proposed a bill that would make it more difficult for young women to obtain a release from military duty based on religiousness. The bill would make it mandatory for such young women to produce proof that they had studied in religious institutions.
Secretariat refusal
After encountering fierce opposition from UTJ, the government agreed with MK Hasson that he would withdraw his offer until the government made a proposal on the subject. When the government's proposal was circulated among the whips of the coalition factions Tuesday, MK Moses asked the government and coalition secretariat not to debate the law in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation before the UTJ members give their opinion. The secretariat did not oblige however, and the bill was approved by the ministerial committee.
The UTJ faction then reconvened and decided in retaliation not to support the government in a no-confidence measure. After some more hardball politics was played, Coalition Chairman Ze'ev Elkin told the UTJ that subjects pertaining to the status quo (between religious and non-religious Israelis) would be discussed by all parties together. UTJ then decided to vote against the no-confidence measure.