Government to retain private lawyer for appeals on Haredi draft exemption

Government legal adviser Gali Baharav-Miara has approved separate government representation in the appeal against the exemption of ultra-Orthodox individuals from military service.

In a letter sent by her legal adviser to the government secretary, Baharav-Miara explained that permission to hire a private representative was granted because she believed it was impossible to defend the government's position that complete avoidance of ultra-Orthodox conscription could be achieved without ordering an exemption from military service.

As reported by Haaretz on Sunday, April 21, permission for a private representative was granted solely for the consideration of a specific appeal against the exemption of Haredim from military conscription. An expanded panel of nine judges of the High Court is scheduled to discuss this appeal on June 2.

Last week, the government approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to respond to an appeal seeking exemption of yeshiva students from military conscription. Under the approved proposal, the government will argue in court that there is no immediate need to conscript the ultra-Orthodox while preparations for the new conscription law continue, and there is no basis for freezing subsidies for married yeshiva students.

Government legal adviser Gali Baharav-Miara had previously advised the High Court that the state should initiate steps to recruit ultra-religious young people, as there is no legal means to prevent this.

However, as the government maintains the opposite position, Baharav-Miara declined to represent the state in this appeal.