Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday that the IDF is simply unable to take in all chareidim, and he floated a national service track as an alternative for those who do not enlist in the military.

His remarks, made in a radio interview, come as political talks continue over a possible government led by Gadi Eisenkot, after neither bloc won a clear majority in last Tuesday’s election.

Asked whether the bloc seeking to replace the current government must shelve the issue of equal service to get the job done, Barak said: “We don’t need to set it aside; we need to handle it wisely.” He made clear that removing Prime Minister Netanyahu comes before everything else, saying that the bloc’s most important promise is to remove him from power, and “if another promise contradicts it, it must move aside for the main promise.”

Barak said he believes Eisenkot is capable of putting forward a conscription framework the chareidi parties could live with. “Eisenkot can propose a conscription bill that has a good chance of passing. The chareidim won’t love it, but it will be fair. We don’t want to eliminate Torah study,” he said.

Departing sharply from those demanding the mandatory draft of every chareidi, Barak said: “Of course we need equal service, but the IDF is anyway unable to integrate all the chareidim. Anyone who chooses not to draft will serve nine months, or however many, of national service, and will then go about their lives.” He also called for increasing pay and benefits for IDF soldiers.

At the same time, Barak said any compromise on the draft would have to come with a push for core curriculum studies, more chareidim joining the workforce, and greater participation in the tax system.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)