An advanced welfare state that constantly works to expand the freedom, quality of life, and well-being of its citizens, rests first and foremost on the principle of solidarity and mutual responsibility. The willingness of citizens to pay taxes that fund high-quality public services in education, health, welfare, and transportation, such that enable citizens to realize their full potential, rests on the assumption that there exists some measure of solidarity among the citizens.

 

In Israel, until the long-awaited peace is achieved, the highest expression of mutual responsibility and public service is defending the country. And for the sake of clarity: defense means military service. Therefore, all of Israel’s citizens – Jews and Arabs, men and women, secular, religious, and ultra-Orthodox, as they reach the age of 18 – will have to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces.

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Oz Party will work to ensure that high quality public education, healthcare, transportation, and welfare service would be provided equally to those who serve in the military and to their families. Once draft orders are issued to all citizens aged 18, thereby giving all an equal opportunity to serve, those who refuse to serve in the country’s military defense would be considered as having shirked the burden of mutual responsibility and will have no share in the provision of public services.