With just four days remaining before Israel’s Knesset elections, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! party has unveiled an ambitious 100-day governing plan that includes sweeping changes to military conscription and government funding for Chareidi educational institutions.

According to draft documents published by Yedioth Ahronoth, Eisenkot’s party intends to require every Israeli citizen to perform either military or national service, introduce financial benefits for those who serve, and advance legislation imposing sanctions on individuals who do not enlist.

The proposals would significantly alter the longstanding arrangements governing military service for Chareidim, placing the contentious draft issue at the center of the party’s agenda.

The plan also targets government funding for Chareidi schools that do not teach the state-mandated core curriculum, including subjects such as mathematics and English.

Under the proposal, independent educational institutions that do not comply with the party’s proposed requirements would lose government funding.

Party officials defended the proposed changes, claiming that approximately half of Israel’s first-grade students do not study the core curriculum.

“Approximately 50% of first-grade students do not study the core curriculum. They have separate autonomy. We must bring everyone in line with state education. Anyone who is not part of the state education framework will not receive funding,” the party stated, according to the report.

The proposal could have significant financial consequences for Chareidi educational institutions that maintain independent curricula and emphasize Limud HaTorah.

The 100-day plan was prepared by a committee established approximately four months ago and headed by Yoav Horowitz, a former director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Other members of the committee included economist Professor Manuel Trajtenberg, former senior Finance Ministry official Shaul Meridor, former Knesset legal adviser Eyal Yinon, and Inbar Harush-Giti.

Beyond military conscription and education, the party’s proposals include establishing a state commission of inquiry, introducing legislation limiting the tenure of prime ministers, implementing judicial changes, and taking steps to address Israel’s cost-of-living crisis.

The party also proposes subsidized daycare for children from birth to age three for working couples who perform military or national service, alongside measures intended to increase the housing supply.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)