Dealing with the challenge the Charedi sector poses will require inter-agency coordination. This is unlikely to happen until the political system is changed.
In two previous posts, I discussed the threats and challenges that the Charedi sector poses to Israel's prosperity and ability to carry out the Top 15 Project. These challenges have since been demonstrated by the case of Justice Ministry official Amnon De Hartog striking UTJ MK Yacov Cohen in an argument over the State budget for Charedi schools.
Despite the fiery rhetoric surrounding this topic (as demonstrated by the above case), in practice, the principles that must constitute the basis of the State's policies vis-à-vis the Charedi sector are clear and well known.
- Reducing stipends to cause better and quicker integration of Charedim into the workplace.
- Strictness regarding the Education Ministry's core subjects such as English and Math's and holding equal criteria for each school that receives a State budget, including those in the Charedi sector.
- Equal budgets to all Israeli schools in order to prevent the movement of non Charedi students to the Charedi education system (on this topic, see Merav Arlozorov's article "Charedi schools winning in Competition over Pupils" The Marker 6/14/07 and Yossi Sarid's recent article in Ha'aretz).
- Strict enforcement and checks of Yeshivot in order to verify that only those whose full time profession is learning Torah are benefiting from State allowances. All others should be enlisted in the army or do national service.
- Establishing the obligation for national service simultaneous to army service, the performance of which will allow Charedim to join the work force at the age of 21-22 instead of at 26.
- Establishing special support tracks in education and professional training for Charedi men and women.
- Strict enforcement of tax laws in the Charedi sector in order to 'whiten' the Charedi economy so it can integrate into the national economy.
Dealing with the root of the problems in the Charedi sector in light of these principles requires cooperation between several ministries and authorities.
Yet this is harder than meets the eye. The above mentioned problems are dealt with by the Welfare Ministry, controlled by the Labor party, the Ministry of Trade and Industry controlled by Shas, the Finance Ministry headed by Kadima as well as by Heads of the Local Authority, National Insurance and others.
The different agenda of each party and the chronic political instability make designing and implementing such policies much harder. This simply won't happen with the current composition of the Government. And this is just one example.
Therefore, the truth of the matter is that the root problem ilies in the weakness of the Government. Only a change that will create longer and more stable terms and congruence between the identity of the Prime Minister, the composition of the Government and the composition of the Knesset will we be able to deal with this challenge (See: It’s the structure, not the content).
Changing the Charedi education system and employment values requires a government that is able to stand firm vis-à-vis the Charedi sector and bring about a fundamental change in its economic and social essence. Therefore, similar to other important areas, dealing with the Charedi challenge also requires a change in the political system.
Gidi Grinstein is founder and president of the Reut Institute. The views expressed in this blog are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Reut Institute.
For additional information regarding BloGidi see his original post: A Link in the Chain
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