AFP | Aug 01, 2012 | JORDAN TIMES
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — For many Arab Israelis, the fact that a young Muslim woman could willingly accept to perform national service at a hospital in the northern city of Haifa is nothing less than a betrayal.
But for 19-year-old “Nadine”, taking part in the country’s civil service programme — an alternative to serving in the army — not only provides a salary but could “open many doors” in the future.
With Israel poised to overhaul its draft law, Israel’s Arab minority is mustering its forces to fight against plans to compel them, and the ultra-Orthodox community, to serve either in the military or perform some form of national service.
Until now, both sectors have largely been exempt.
With the current law governing conscription which was due to expire at midnight on Tuesday, the government has so far failed to agree on the wording of new legislation which has caused sharp disputes within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
For Nadine, who declines to give her real name for fear of repercussions, the motivation is financial incentive now and employment possibilities later.
“It will open many doors to me in the future when I look for a job,” she told AFP.
Earning 850 shekels ($210/170 euros) a month for working seven hours a day, six days a week, Nadine will also get a lump sum of around 14,000 shekels ($3,460/2,800 euros) when she finishes her two years of service, as well as a certificate from the defence ministry.
“I think doing civil service will help me in the future, and at the end of the day, I am serving my country,” says the teenager, who also has a brother serving in the Israeli army.
A 20-year-old woman in the same programme at the neurosurgical department at Rambam Hospital says that despite the criticism, she loves her job.
“I prefer to look at it from a different angle — I love helping people and I feel like I am doing something for society,” said the woman, who would give her name only as Reem.
“I do 164 hours of national service a month and I am in favour of it because I live in this country and this has nothing to do with politics,” she said.
Netanyahu’s coalition government is locked in a dispute over the wording of legislation to replace the so-called Tal Law, which allowed thousands of ultra-Orthodox men to avoid the military service that is otherwise largely compulsory for all Israelis.
When the Tal Law expired at midnight, it meant that all 18-year-old Israelis, including the ultra-Orthodox, would be compelled to enlist in the military, unless they are exempted by the defence ministry.
Israel’s Arab youth have traditionally been exempted from service by means of an unspoken Israeli policy.
But when the parliament reconvenes in October after its summer break, attempts to revise the law to include Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox, are likely to begin again in earnest.