The haredi draft exemption issue:

A fair solution

The writer's proposed solution does away with locking up haredim who refuse to serve and also avoids punishing the yeshivas. Opinion.

The haredi draft exemption issue:

The haredi war that should never be fought

A war on the State of Israel is a war on its citizens: the Jewish people. And that’s a battle no Torah elite should ever fight. Opinion.

Shas: Deri didn't call for draft evasion

Shas party denies Aryeh Deri called for draft evasion, calling it 'false libel,' says remarks were aimed at encouraging Torah students.

Emergency conference: 'We're protecting our very souls'

Dozens of representatives from haredi yeshivas and communities gather in Jerusalem to found help center for arrested yeshiva students.

Haredi leader turns to US Jews with unusual request

Rabbi Dov Lando tells visiting Jewish delegation his vision for American Jews' role in battle against haredi conscription, promising 'big role' and clear instructions later on. 'It will be in stages.'

IDF investigating:

Who allowed haredi rabbis to visit jailed draft dodgers?

IDF faces backlash after allowing senior haredi rabbis to visit jailed draft dodgers, pledges tighter enforcement of prison visitation rules.

Bennett on Deri's remarks: 'Like a knife in the heart'

Bennett blasted Shas leader Aryeh Deri for urging haredi students not to enlist during wartime, warning the remarks undermine IDF morale and unity.

MK Porush to Arutz Sheva:

'Haredim and secular Jews getting closer to a civil war'

MK Meir Porush accuses Attorney General of inspiring tensions between Israel's haredi and general populations.

Haredi leader visits yeshiva students held in military prison

Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch visits yeshiva students in Military Prison, accompanied by leading Shas party rabbis.

Haredi leader ramps up pressure:

Rabbi Dov Lando pushing economic moves to harm Israel

Rabbi Dov Lando leads initiative for several haredi factions to withdraw investment funds from Israel in protest of the arrest of yeshiva students who refuse to enlist.

Haredim protest, clash with police in central Israel & Jerusalem

Jerusalem Faction protestors block Route 4 to protest the arrests of draft dodgers, throw rocks, and call police 'Nazis.'

'Haredi Jewry is behind you'

Senior haredi leader visits draft dodgers in prison

The 95-year-old leader of the Lithuanian Haredi community visits detainees in Beit Lid Prison, offering encouragement and reinforcing haredi Jewry's backing.

Haredi newspaper criticizes Netanyahu: 'Stop, you have no right'

A scathing article in Hamevaser calls on Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt military operation in Gaza, claiming State has no spiritual mandate to fight while persecuting Torah scholars.

MK Porush launches hunger strike against arrest of draft dodgers

Member of Knesset Meir Porush began a protest on Thursday morning outside the office of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at the Ministry of Justice in Jerusalem.

Haredi newspaper's front page announces 'war'

Yated Ne'eman headlines with the word 'War' following acts of enforcement against yeshiva students who refuse conscription, accuses Attorney General of attempting to create irreversible clash between State and haredi community.

Knesset to go on recess, delaying Draft Law again

Knesset staff will go on recess for the last two weeks of August, causing further delays to the Draft Law and increasing frustration among haredi Knesset members.

'Declaration of war'

Emergency meeting held at home of haredi leader

Rabbi Dov Lando convenes emergency meeting in Bnei Brak over detention of yeshiva students, accusing the State of waging a 'war on Torah students.'

New battalion established in IDF Rescue Brigade

The IDF has officially launched a fifth battalion within its Rescue Brigade on Wednesday, in response to a significant increase in enlistment motivation following Operation Rising Lion.

Haredi Yeshivot fear rising enlistment rates among their students

Haredi leadership believes that any students enlisting could mean a crack in the traditional stance against service in the IDF.

MK Illouz:

'Those who learn Torah should be first to serve in the IDF'

In a wide-ranging interview, MK Dan Illouz calls for expanding IDF enlistment to include haredi youth, warns of political consequences if soldiers are ignored, and urges full victory in Gaza.

MK Goldknopf clarifies: 'They distorted my statements'

MK Yitzhak Goldknopf says statements about pain 'distorted,' clarifies words referred only to Draft Law. 'Your sons are the holiest, your pain is everyone's pain,' he clarifies to bereaved families.

Haredi journalist:

'I am ashamed, this is not the way a Jew talks'

Aryeh Ehrlich, editor of Mishpacha magazine, harshly condemned MK Yitzhak Goldknopf’s statement distancing himself from the grief of bereaved religious-Zionist families amid the war with Hamas. Calling the remarks 'un-Jewish' and 'callous.'

Goldknopf threatens

'Israel will be without haredim if they are drafted'

United Torah Judaism Party chairman says the haredi community would leave Israel entirely if they are faced with a mandatory IDF draft, tells religious Zionists who serve, 'don't transfer your pain to me.'

Haredi yeshiva dean:

Don't argue over Draft Law with secular people

Rabbi Dovid Povarsky slams government hostility toward Torah learners, urges yeshiva students to stand firm in faith and avoid public disputes.

'They Called Me a Nazi':

Haredim attack Injured IDF officer in Bnei Brak

A year and eight months after being severely wounded in combat, an IDF officer was attacked on his way to rehabilitation - by Jews.

Edelstein:

'They tried to oust me, but I stayed true to my values'

During a Knesset plenum debate, MK Yuli Edelstein reveals past efforts to remove him from office: "They tried to oust me during the disengagement, but I always remained true to my values."

Widespread protests follow arrest of draft dodger

Radical haredi factions block major highways nationwide to protest arrests of draft dodgers; violent clashes erupt with police and motorists.

Top haredi yeshiva in shock

Wolfson Yeshiva held an emergency assembly after three students, including two Kol Torah alumni, declared plans to enlist in the IDF, sparking sharp rebuke from the dean.

Warning to haredi youngsters to avoid going to airport

The Yeshiva Council today distributed a letter to all haredi yeshivot across the country, warning students not to attempt to independently arrange their military status.

MKs Stern and Tur-Paz:

'A spit in the face of reservists and Likud supporters'

MKs Elazar Stern and Moshe Turpaz speak to Arutz Sheva amid growing tensions over the Draft Law: "Israel cannot be removed from its values."

Was a deal offered to Edelstein? Coalition denies

Political sources claim Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein was offered to remain in his role while the Draft Law would be transferred elsewhere - but he refused. Coalition officials reject the report: "That’s a lie."

Likud to vote on removing Yuli Edelstein from key committee

Likud MKs Hanoch Milwidsky and Nissaim Vaturi challenge Yuli Edelstein's leadership of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, ahead of faction vote set for Wednesday.

Smotrich

'Toppling government means defeat against Hamas'

Finance Minister warns against dismantling the government over the Draft Law, stating, "Woe to anyone who topples the government and drags us into elections that will, God forbid, lead to a halt in the war and a defeat."

Report:

Edelstein shelves draft enlistment law amid coalition tensions

After departure of haredi parties from the government, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein withdraws proposed enlistment law, arguing that there is no point in advancing a proposal that will not pass.

Senior minister sets goal: Sovereignty now

A senior government minister calls for a new political program in Judea and Samaria to promote gradual sovereignty and warns of a rift in the right-wing bloc.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef slams Netanyahu, Edelstein over IDF draft

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef calls Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a 'liar,' says MK Yuli Edelstein is 'the son of a priest.'

'War against Torah learners'

Gafni and Smotrich trade blows over haredi conscription

Gafni accuses religious Zionists of waging war on Torah learners; Smotrich fires back, urging him to witness their sacrifice and spirit.

'No connection to Torah values'

Rabbi Stav slams haredi politicians

Rabbi David Stav fiercely rejects MK Moshe Gafni’s attacks on Religious Zionists, affirming Torah mandates IDF service and condemning political power struggles.

Deputy Knesset Speaker:

Biometric attendance requirements are absurd

MK Hanoch Milwidsky of the Likud stated that some of MK Yuli Edelstein's demands in the draft law have been unreasonable.

Moshe Gafni avoids question on haredi draft

MK Moshe Gafni dodges question on whether haredim not studying Torah should be drafted into the IDF, emphasizes United Torah Judaism will return to coalition only with agreed-upon Draft Law.

By the rabbis' orders

Shas to resign from government, remain in the coalition

Currently, Shas's Knesset members will not support a no-confidence motion against the government, which would allow the Prime Minister to continue his efforts to advance the draft exemption law.

Media exposes internal haredi rift

As UTJ exits coalition, internal tensions within haredi bloc resurface as divide deepens between Gur-affiliated factions and the Shlomei Emunim alliance with Belz.

Haredi Party Official:

Draft law is the 'final solution to the world of Torah'

Motke Bloy, a senior figure in the Degel Hatorah faction, claimed in an interview that the attempt to recruit Haredim is reminiscent of the Nazis' Final Solution.

Draft Law presented to haredim:

Cancellation of property tax discounts and tax credits

MK Yuli Edelstein's Draft Law includes a clause stating that if enlistment goals are not met within six months, daycare subsidies will be completely canceled.

Draft Law crisis

Haredi parties: Edelstein has deceived us

Shas and United Torah Judaism issue a joint statement against MK Yuli Edelstein: "He’s playing a political game at the expense of those who serve, causing a severe rift in the national camp."

Netanyahu

'We're committed to protecting the Druze in Syria'

PM Netanyahu and Minister Smotrich visit Hashmonaim Brigade base. 'We can protect our people and also preserve the world of Torah.'

Edelstein

'I thwarted every attempt to overthrow the right-wing government'

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Yuli Edelstein, issued a special statement amid efforts to legislate the conscription law and the withdrawal of the Haredi parties.

IDF reveals plans to increase arrests of draft dodgers

IDF intensifies crackdown on deserters with tripled forces at ports of exit and new proactive enforcement units to boost detentions and deter draft evasion.

Bereaved mother:

'Soldiers are killed and people hide behind the Torah'

Laly Deri, who lost her son in Gaza, passionately calls for an end to yeshiva exemptions, urging the Haredi community to prioritize national service amid Israel’s existential threats.

Haredi Analyst:

'Haredi secession will strengthen Netanyahu'

The Haredi commentator Ari Kalman claims that although the secession of the Haredi from the coalition actually allows Netanyahu to rule even without a majority.

In Depth:

Black hats, black ops

Israel is currently seeing unprecedented steps on both sides of the issue of forcing haredim into service - but haredim are not so estranged from Israel's security as one might believe.

Haredi officials: 'We may work to bring down the government'

Haredi leaders warn they may back efforts to topple the government unless a new conscription bill aligned with pre-war agreements is submitted, blaming MK Edelstein for breaching deals.

UTJ leaves coalition

'The Draft Law presented deviates from what was agreed upon'

After no agreements were reached regarding the wording of the Draft Law, the rabbis of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael instruct their representatives in the Knesset to resign from all their coalition positions.

Senior Coalition Member:

'Deri is breaking the government, it will cost him in elections'

The coalition accused Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri of trying to disband the government while blaming it on the UTJ party.

United Torah Judaism threatens to bolt gov't over Draft Law delay

United Torah Judaism intensifies protest over the delay in advancing Draft Law, threatens to withdraw from government, potentially taking Shas with it.

Haredi leaders' warning to Diaspora Jews

Haredi leaders in the Diaspora urge caution over granting Israeli citizenship to children, advise parents to consult before proceeding with immigration or citizenship applications due to 'risk' of IDF draft.

MK Moshe Gafni:

'If Attorney General is hurt, haredim will be first to help her'

MK Moshe Gafni harshly criticizes Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of deliberately targeting the haredi community and noting that United Hatzalah volunteers would be the first to offer aid if she needed it.

Starting Next Month:

Increased enforcement campaign against haredi draft dodgers

The state has begun extensive steps to conscript yeshiva students, including sending draft orders and increased border enforcement. Plans have been made to expand detention facilities for an expected increase in the number of arrests.

Haredi parties considering option to dissolve Knesset?

Haredi Knesset parties contemplating voting with opposition to exert more pressure to pass Draft Law, warn of potential to dissolve Knesset if progress isn't made.

Haredi parties to boycott vote for new minister?

Haredi MKs warn of escalating boycott if no progress made on Draft Law, though questions arise regarding vote to approve MK Israel Eichler’s appointment as minister.