Day 496 - Likud lawmakers push together for Haredi draft

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute
audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and
the Jewish world.


Political correspondent Sam Sokol and
environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host
Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.


Sokol looks at the coalition's struggle over ultra-Orthodox army
service exemptions, between those who want to minimize exemptions
and those who want to use legislation to create a gradual
increase leading to universal enlistment. He discusses a recent
Likud lawmaker conference on the subject, that called for a more
universal Haredi draft and sanctions on draft dodgers.


In honor of Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish holiday of the trees, Surkes
reports on the new Jewish Climate Trust, with heavy involvement
from philanthropist Steven Bronfman, of the Canadian Bronfman
family. The fund, which is launching next month, will be the
first to focus specifically on climate, aiming to help Jewish and
Israeli climate organizations build interfaith bridges and
regional bridges in the Middle East.


Surkes also speaks about several moshav communities in the south
that were attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Two
are located just outside the designated zone of the Gaza Envelope
and are therefore not eligible for the funding necessary to
rebuild after the October 7, 2023 attacks.


Please see today's ongoing live blog for more
updates.


Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple
Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your
podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


For further reading:


Likud lawmakers hold conference calling for Haredi draft,
sanctions on dodgers


Budding climate fund seeks to guide Jewish response to
era’s greatest threat


Just 138 yards too far from the Gaza border, towns are
denied post-Oct. 7 state support


 


 


IMAGE: Haredi men protest and clash with police against the
ultra-Orthodox draft on January 28, 2025. (Photo by Chaim
Goldberg/Flash90)


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