Four papers comment on the controversy over proposed legislation to reinstate stipends for married-with-children, full-time ultra-orthodox yeshiva students:
Yediot Aharonot cautions that „MK Gafni’s draft legislation for giving support payments to ultra-orthodox men who study in yeshiva full-time is pushing Israel to the point-of-no-return,” and warns that „The demographic growth of the ultra-orthodox along with the state’s inability to provide them with an education in the basic fields, is leading to a situation in which Israel will find it hard to exist in another generation or two.”
Ma’ariv says that the combination of IDF exemptions, a concomitant ban on working if they learn in yeshiva full-time and financial support from the state, „encourages [ultra-orthodox] young men to stay in yeshiva and not integrate into the workforce, unlike their relatives in Brooklyn, Antwerp or other places in the world.” The author asserts that Prime Minister Netanyahu now has the chance „to put order in the abnormal relationship between the ultra-orthodox and the general (and not necessarily secular) population, which bears the burden and carries the ultra-orthodox on their back,” and adds that „The formula is simple: More work – less support payments.” The paper warns that failure to deal with the problem is liable to generate a secular political backlash.
Yisrael Hayom commends the June High Court of Justice decision, which determined that „There is no justification for the state to finance 11,000 ultra-orthodox full-time yeshiva students,” and criticizes ultra-orthodox MKs for threatening to vote against the state budget unless legislation that, in effect, bypasses the High Court decision, is passed first. However, the author cites an old adage to the effect that „An ill custom does not disappear in the blink of an eye,” and commends Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to establish a committee to study the issue as long as its „recommendations are practical.” The paper flatly dismisses the idea of granting similar stipends to married university students and calls for both creativity and flexibility in dealing with the problem. The author endorses „Not an all-or-nothing approach but the determination that something must change.”
The Jerusalem Post states that encouraging the study of the Torah as a central value in the life of the Jewish people, the stated intention of the bill that was presented last week encapsulates an honorable goal that should be pursued by the State, but notes that while „Gafni’s intentions are praiseworthy, his implementation is wrongheaded.” The editor feels that „Instead of offering incentives to remain unemployed, the state should think of ways to encourage haredi men to gradually integrate into the job market,” and concludes: „For the past few decades the State of Israel has proved its commitment to encouraging Torah study. Now it is the haredi community’s turn to prove its commitment to maintaining Israel’s socioeconomic viability.”
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Haaretz commends the WikiLeaks website for releasing hundreds of thousands of classified military documents related to American actions in Iraq, and claims that the biggest lesson to be learned is that „it is no longer possible to prevent the release of information concerning illegal activities by soldiers in wartime, or by those who have power and authority in other realms.” The editor declares that „the free flow of information ensures that decision-makers don’t make inappropriate decisions or take measures that disproportionately impair human dignity,” and adds: „The flow of information strengthens democracy.”
BreuerPress-info
