Shas Chairman Eli Yishai issued a statement Monday saying that, following consultations with Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, the party will not be sending a representative to the committee established to present proposals for replacing the Tal Law. “Those who study Torah are not subject to negotiations on quotas and on their basic rights to study the Torah,” Yishai said. “Their contribution to the Jewish people and to the State of Israel is well known and clear to any believing Jew."

Yishai also said that Shas would produce its own recommendations on the issue of the share of the military burden and IDF draft reform and present it to the public.

Members of Knesset from the haredi (ultra-Orthodox party) United Torah Judaism (UTJ) also said they will not participate in or send representatives to the committee.

According to sources within the UTJ, leading rabbis in the haredi community have instructed UTJ MKs not to take part in the hearings due to ideological opposition to a law which will encourage drafting haredim into the army.

MK (UTJ) and chairman of the finance committee Moshe Gafni said in an interview with the haredi newspaper Yated Ne´eman, that Rabbi Aharon Leib Schteinman - the de facto leader of the ultra-Orthodox community while Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyshaiv is still hospitalized - instructed party members to quit the coalition if any attempt is made to hinder the studies of yeshiva students.

“Any attempt to prevent Torah students from their studies would constitute a severe injury to the soul of the Jewish people,” Gafni told the newspaper. “We wouldn’t stay for one moment in the coalition if they try and do this,” Gafni warned. “We cannot compromise in any way.”

Gafni also rejected the idea of a quota for the number of students permitted to gain exemptions from military or civilian service. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 05/14/12)