Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelecha Unveil Universal Conscription Plan
Yoaz Hendel and Prof. Yaron Zelecha unveiled a universal conscription and economic plan, setting it as a strict coalition condition to end draft exemptions.
Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelecha Present Universal Conscription Plan
Ahead of early voting for IDF soldiers, political figures Yoaz Hendel and Prof. Yaron Zelecha held a press conference to unveil a comprehensive universal conscription and economic plan. The proposal mandates national service for every citizen without exemptions, backed by a strict system of economic incentives and immediate sanctions for draft evaders. Hendel stressed that committing to this legislation before forming a coalition is a non-negotiable condition for joining any future government.
"We are calling for universal conscription as a prerequisite for establishing a government. This is our most critical priority," Yoaz Hendel stated during the briefing.
Comprehensive Financial Incentives and Sanctions
The plan allocates 6 billion shekels to significantly raise regular service wages, adding at least 2,000 shekels per month for every soldier, alongside expanded benefits for reservists. Service will become a central criterion for housing discounts, mortgages, daycare subsidies, municipal tax reductions, and tax credits. Furthermore, reservists will receive priority in land allocation, public service hiring, and state tenders. Funding for these initiatives will be partially drawn from structural economic reforms proposed by Prof. Yaron Zelecha, which aim to release tens of billions of shekels in the first year.
Political Demands and Coalition Red Lines
Addressing current political alignments, Hendel criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statements regarding draft exemption laws, while urging Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to distance himself from ultra-Orthodox political alliances and embrace the Zionist consensus. Both leaders emphasized that their faction will not support a government that perpetuates unequal service burdens, warning that failing to integrate the Haredi and Arab sectors poses an existential threat to Israel's demographic and social stability by 2048.
