Ya'alon admits 'rebellious' yeshiva back into hesder program

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon decided on Monday to allow the Har Bracha Yeshiva -- located in Samaria -- to re-enter the IDF's hesder program, which combines yeshiva studies and military service. Ya'alon's decision came after a phone conversation with the yeshiva head.

Former Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided in 2010 to expel the yehsiva from the program after the school's head, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, encouraged military insubordination and spoke out against the evacuation of Jewish outposts in the West Bank. Several of the yeshiva's students, who were serving soldiers at the time of outpost removals, took part in activities against the removals.

Ya'alon's office did not release details about the nature of the phone conversation, and what, if any, agreements on accepted behavior were reached. Ya'alon's spokesman would not return calls by press time.

Students in the yeshiva will serve 16 months in the IDF.

Ya'alon also announced that the Defense Ministry was adding two yeshivas -- situated in Givat Olga and Modiin -- to the hesder program list. Students from these schools will have to serve 24 months in the Israel Defense Forces, though, instead of only 16 months.