Draft Law

Traffic and confrontations amid Haredi protest convoy

Convoys departed from 19 haredi population centers under police coordination, with reports of heavy traffic and violent incidents, despite organizers' urging orderly and lawful protest.

Who should be learning instead of serving?

Torah study does not justify broad exemption from military service, except possibly for a small number of elite scholars.

Protest convoys reveal schism in haredi community

As hundreds of vehicles prepare for a nationwide protest, cooperation between major Hasidic groups and the Jerusalemite Faction has exposed the fault lines against Shas and Degel HaTorah.

No arrests of deserters on election day

The chairman of the Central Elections Committee said, following discussions with the Attorney General and the police commissioner, that on Election Day there will be no enforcement operations against deserters.

Haredi deserter sparks waves of protest at release party

After six days in military detention, Yechiel Kotiner was released last night. He had caused significant controversy when he was arrested at a draft office.

46 haredi draft dodgers were held in custody on Shabbat

Haredi journalists report an increase in the number of arrests following tougher enforcement against those who failed to report to draft offices.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef:

Trump spurned us due to arrest of yeshiva students

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef blames US-Iran memorandum of understanding on arrests of haredi yeshiva students.

Haredi protest returns to Beit Lid

Thousands of students and alumni from Be'er Hatalmud Yeshiva expected to arrive at detention facility to protest arrest of Sephardic yeshiva student.

Haredi parties push coalition to speed up draft law

The coalition plans to delete from the conscription law all sections except the provision on release of draft-dodgers, but the Knesset's legal adviser opposes it.

Gerrer Rebbe leads thousands in protest outside IDF prison

Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Arieh Alter, leads demonstration outside Military Prison 10 against arrest of hassid.

'I'm Proud':

Three of Deri's grandsons listed as draft dodgers

Deri's grandsons are among tens of thousands of Haredi youths who have had arrest warrants issued against them for failing to report for service.

Spontaneous protests block major highway

Jerusalem Faction protesters block Route 4 near Bnei Brak, causing congestion and clashing with police.

'Sticks And Stones':

MK Porush's threat against the Attorney General

MK Porush threatened physical violence against the attorney general over the arrest of haredi draft dodgers.

Haredi leader orders mass protest cancelled

The protest planned to paralyze major roads was canceled following explicit instructions from haredi leader Rabbi Dov Lando.

Haredi MK accuses army of 'unchecked hypocrisy'

UTJ MK Porush declared today: 'How can a state that declares 'it has no room in its prisons' for Palestinian terrorists find detention space to arrest yeshiva students?'

Yeshiva students vs. IDF soldiers:

A denial of the Torah of Moses

Rabbi Re'em Hacohen sharply criticizes the proposed Basic Law on Torah Study, arguing that it undermines the value of Torah study, 'the very comparison between yeshiva students and those serving in the IDF is a fundamental mistake.'

Further step in integrating haredi soldiers into Israel Air Force

About 20 technicians who completed basic technical training have been integrated into a special unit designated for haredi soldiers at the Tel Nof Air Force Base.

Jerusalem Faction threatens to block main roads

Jerusalem Faction to block roads, hold mass demonstration, in central Israel.

Rabbi Lando in Chicago:

Israel is persecuting Torah students

Addressing a Chicago fundraiser, Rabbi Dov Lando said yeshiva students face persecution and growing economic hardship in Israel.

Shas MK attacks Deputy AG: 'He is behind sanctions on haredim'

Shas MK Yinon Azoulay slams Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon, says his superior 'does his will,' warns, 'Do not raise a hand against Torah Jews.'

Religious Zionism demands revision of haredi law

Finance Minister Smotrich announced that his party will oppose any wording that equates yeshiva students with IDF service members. The Government Secretary announced that the clause will be removed from the law.

Haredim angered by Smotrich's support for the draft

Haredi sources expressed disappointment at Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's refusal to advance measures that would benefit tens of thousands of conscription-eligible individuals.

Heritage Minister:

'Without the Torah we have no right to exist'

Minister Amichai Eliyahu spoke out in favor of the exemption of Yeshiva students from the draft - as long as they are genuinely studying Torah.

Haredi rabbi speaks out against mass protests

Rabbi Avraham Salim, leading Sephardic-haredi rabbi, tells haredi yeshiva students to stay away from protests, warning they detract from Torah study and accustom participants to violence.

Haredi MKs spark firestorm with visit to draft dodgers

MKs Aryeh Deri and Yitzhak Goldknopf visited detained haredim who refused to enlist. Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the visit, calling it a disgrace and lack of awareness to the public.

Demand to block warning lines for haredi draft evaders

A Tel Aviv council member has asked the Attorney General and the police commissioner to open an investigation and order the blocking of phone alert lines allegedly used to thwart arrests of haredi draft evaders.

Deri: 'UTJ won't break up right-wing bloc'

Aryeh Deri rejected the claim that the haredi parties had pushed for a sweeping exemption from military service for Haredim.

Minister: 'I'm not willing to have a fake law'

Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer slams haredi leadership, says he won't support Draft Law that doesn't lead to real enlistment.

Haredi rabbi denounces haredi MKs

Rabbi Eliyahu Pinhasi issued harsh criticism of haredi Knesset members, claiming that for years they did not manage to regularize the status of yeshiva students.

Religious Zionist rabbis demand: Pass the Draft Law

Rabbi David Fendel and Rabbi Dror Aryeh urge coalition MKs to show 'national responsibility' and complete Draft Law legislative process.

Haredi rabbi answers:

What blessing do you say when you're arrested?

Rabbi Moshe Brandsdorfer issued a halachic ruling addressing how yeshiva students should respond when arrested over enlistment.

Security guard arrested after throwing stones at protest

Police opened an investigation after footage showed several people on the roof of a Jerusalem hotel throwing stones at haredi protesters on the nearby road.

New economic blow on haredi men evading military conscription

Gil Limon instructs Interior Ministry's legal adviser to continue advancing cancellation of municipal tax discounts for draft evaders, determines ministry’s position does not comply with High Court of Justice rulings.

Could haredi consumers cost Israel's biggest firms millions?

UTJ is examining targeted consumer boycotts of major companies, aiming to leverage haredi purchasing power as economic pressure.

Elkin insists: No chance of passing Draft Law

Minister Ze'ev Elkin says no chance of passing Draft Law before Knesset dissolves - but does not believe center-left can work with haredi parties.

Haredi rabbi declares draft dodger 'partner to God'

A yeshiva student from Har Nof who served twenty days in military detention for refusing to report to the recruitment office was received on Friday evening at the home of one of the leading rabbis in the haredi community.

Shas issues ultimatum to next government

Shas MK Erez Malul lays down an unequivocal condition ahead of post-election coalition talks: Haredi parties will not join any government until the legal status of yeshiva students is anchored in a "fortified and robust" law.

Likud MK: 'Daycare bill bypasses need to enlist'

'Daycare bill' aiming to ensure Supreme Court cannot strip yeshiva students' families of daycare subsidies passes preliminary reading.

IDF reveals: Spike in haredi enlistment

IDF publishes new data showing record number of haredi recruits, combat soldiers.

Bill to dissolve Knesset to be brought for first reading

Coalition chairman Ofir Katz says bill to dissolve 25th Knesset to be brought for vote on Monday.

Democrats chairman won't rule out coalition with haredim

MK Yair Golan, head of Israel's 'Democrats' party, says he is willing to sit with haredim in government, insists there is no way to enlist thousands of haredim immediately.

MK Bitan: This Is the only dispute left with the haredi parties

Economic Affairs Committee chairman MK David Bitan claims that the primary disagreement currently separating the Likud and the haredi parties is the date of the next elections.

Degel HaTorah to oppose Netanyahu's draft bill

Sources in the haredi Degel HaTorah faction clarified tonight (Sunday) to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the faction will not support passing the draft bill before the elections.

Proposed bill to benefit haredi draft evaders

If passed, the new law would require a special area of military prisons to be set aside for detainees with specific faith-based needs.

Haredi MK to Supreme Court justice: 'Who are you, anyway?'

Haredi MK Meir Porush slams judicial system's 'despotism,' condemning hatred 'dripping between the lines' of every legal decision.

IDF: 7,000 combat soldiers needed immediately

IDF warns of manpower shortage, bereaved father urges Draft Law to heal rift in nation.

Bill to dissolve Knesset passes preliminary reading

Knesset plenum approves bill to dissolve itself in preliminary vote, with 110 MKs in favor and no abstentions or votes opposed.

Demand filed to release haredi deserters for the holiday

Haredi leaders insist that Yeshiva students arrested for failing to report for duty in the IDF be allowed to go home for the holiday of Shavuot.

Deputy Minister warns:

The haredim will pay a heavy price for toppling the government

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharon Haskel stands by her oppoistion of the currently proposed draft bill and predicts that the haredi parties will suffer in the next election if they topple the government.

Police commissioner orders officers to detain draft dodgers

A new police directive orders officers to detain draft dodgers until Military Police arrive, drawing fierce criticism from Shas.

Smotrich sets condition:

'Draft law must ensure those who don't study enlist'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich set a key condition for advancing the military draft law: a clear declaration from the haredi leadership that “whoever is not studying Torah must enlist."

Haredi MK promises: We will vote to dissolve the Knesset

MK Yitzhak Pindrus says Degel Hatorah faction will vote to dissolve the Knesset, says 'time will tell' if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is serious about Draft Law.

Dudi Amsalem:

'Without the Torah, there is no Nation of Israel'

Minister Amsalem launches a fierce attack on the left, claiming they employ anti-democratic methods. On the judicial reform, he vows: "We will push it through, by both force and intellect."

UTJ MK:

Shortage of soldiers? Just politics

MK Meir Porush launched criticized the IDF after the military published data showing a shortage of roughly 12,000 conscript soldiers.

“Political games"

Coalition crisis over the draft law intensifies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly try to submit the military draft law proposal to committee discussions in an effort to calm tensions within the coalition.

Haredi party rejects Netanyahu offer, pushes to dissolve Knesset

Degel Hatorah party rejects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to amend the Continuity Law, saying it will not support 'futile actions intended to buy time' on the Draft Law.

Shas chief sets condition for joining the next government

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri demands progress on Draft Law, regulation of yeshiva students' status, before the formation of the next coalition.

Opposition pulls bills from Knesset schedule

Knesset opposition parties clear plenum schedule in protest move, urge focus on dissolution and early elections.

Haredi journalism declares end to Netanyahu alliance

Haredi newspapers launch coordinated attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after collapse of trust over Draft Law crisis.

Haredi parties rejected earlier proposal for military draft

Haredi lawmakers reportedly rejected an earlier deal that could have eased Israel’s draft crisis, amid renewed coalition tensions over conscription legislation.