Draft Law

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.

Edelstein

'My replacement did not advance the Draft Law - he buried it'

MK Yuli Edelstein responded to Rabbi Dov Lando's decision to run for election, claiming that he had warned in advance that replacing him as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee would bury the draft law.

Haredi Draft:

Degel HaTorah threatens to dissolve the Knesset

A sharp confrontation developed between the prime minister and the Degel HaTorah faction after Netanyahu asked the party to postpone advancing the draft law until after the elections.

'Imprisoned Torah scholar' spotted vacationing in Thailand

A photo circulated on social media of a young man who was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport a year ago and whose arrest prompted protests calling for his release, shows him vacationing in Thailand.

MPs retreat after trying to arrest Yeshiva student

Military Police forces left empty-handed in Dimona without carrying out the arrest after a protest broke out.

'No ceasefire'

Chief of Staff: IDF not ordered to disarm Hezbollah

IDF Chief Eyal Zamir warned of reserve force strain, discussed Iran strike limits, and said the army is ready to resume fighting.

Smotrich to Gafni: We don't need your approval

Smotrich defended Minister Ofir Sofer after Gafni’s criticism, urging haredim not studying Torah to enlist in the IDF.

Haredi draft crisis: Porush calls for US pressure on Israel

MK Meir Porush urges the Trump administration to pressure Israel to stop arrests of haredi draft evaders, claims that, in contrast to the US, Israel acts 'in ways of persecution against yeshiva students.'

Lithuanian haredi leader withdraws opposition to the Draft Law

Lithuanian haredi leader Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch has withdrawn his opposition to advancing the Draft Law, following a period in which he froze the move over concerns it would harm yeshiva students.

Draft saga:

Attempt to arrest haredi draft dodger in Dimona fails

The Military Police attempted to arrest a Gerrer yeshiva student in Dimona after he was declared a draft evader. Forces arrived at his home, but he did not open the door.

Netanyahu's request from the haredi parties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked haredi parties to put Draft Law on back burner, report says.

Outrageous statement:

Haredi mother sparks controversy

Rivki Blau, a Haredi owner of a beauty salon, sparks controversy after hinting in an interview that she would prefer her son to die rather than become secular.

Haredi leaders warn against haredi IDF service tracks

Dozens of Lithuanian-haredi yeshiva deans join conference warning of spiritual danger in joining IDF; letter warns that 'one who goes there hands himself over to the control and authority of the military rulership.'

'Pioneers Writing History':

Manpower Directorate chief meets with haredi recruits

Major General Dado Bar-Kalifa visited the recruitment office at Tel Hashomer and met dozens of young haredim who enlisted for combat service to commend them on enlisting despite the challenges.

Protests, roadblocks, clashes following arrest of draft evaders

Hundreds of Jerusalem Faction activists block Highway 4 near Bnei Brak in protest against the renewed arrests of draft evaders from military service.

Stronger sanctions against haredim? Government ministries object

All objections are concerned about harm to privacy and fundamental rights, as well as significant doubts about the ability of the proposed measures to actually increase enlistment in practice.

Rabbi Lando:

'Yeshiva students will not join the army under any circumstances'

Haredi community leader Rabbi Dov Lando declared in his speech at the Ponovezh Yeshiva that yeshiva students will not join the army under any circumstances, whether there is a conscription law or not.

The IDF's unusual response to the Cabinet Secretary

The IDF issued an unusual clarification after the Cabinet Secretary's remarks, emphasizing that the Chief of Staff did not express support for a specific conscription law but rather presented the need for a broad legislative response to the needs of the army.

Violent clashes break out at Jerusalem Draft Office

Dozens of violent protesters attempt to break security barriers, hurl objects at security forces; policewoman attacked by protester.

IDF Spokesman:

No prior indication of massive barrage on northern Israel

Shortly after Hezbollah launched dozens of missiles and drones at northern Israel, IDF Spokesman Defrin clarified that the IDF had no warning of the barrage.

IDF Chief of Staff's grim warning

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir gave a stern warning to the cabinet as the military faces operational strain and a personnel shortage.

Haredi leaders demand: Release draft-evaders before Passover

Haredi rabbis, public figures, demand yeshiva students arrested for refusing to enlist be released to celebrate Passover with their families. 'Torah is the true shield.'

Warning to yeshiva students: Do not travel abroad

Leading haredi figures issue instructions for yeshiva students, urging them to avoid involvement in arguments, maintain rigorous Torah study schedule.

Communications Minister:

Ban Attorney General from attending government meetings

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi discusses Draft Law legislation, says haredi parties responsible for delay, must decide what they wish to do.

Netanyahu, Smotrich declare

Draft Law will not advance, Budget approval to be accelerated

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance issued a joint statement regarding the state budget and clarified that some of the planned benefits will be canceled - due to the cost of the war.

Extremist haredim to protest in Jerusalem

Toldot Avraham Yitzhak hasidic rebbe orders anti-draft protest in Jerusalem following recent arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students.

Insubordination in Likud increases

Arutz Sheva has learned that after shooting down Min. Smotrich's VAT exemption order, Likud MKs warned that they will not vote for the conscription law either.

Final version of Draft Law to be presented soon

Knesset committee to receive final version of Draft Law, haredi party expresses concerns that harsher sanctions could interfere with yeshiva students' right to study Torah.

Ohad Tal:

Crown Prince Pahlavi signals hope for Iran, and Israel

In wide-ranging Arutz Sheva interview, Religious Zionism MK discusses meeting Reza Pahlavi, US backing, Judea and Samaria policy, haredi draft reform and dairy overhaul.

This is Naftali Bennett's plan for drafting haredim

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responds to destructive haredi riot, suggesting complete end to funding and solution for haredi enlistment in the IDF.

Minister Ofir Sofer:

'The right will collapse'

Minister Ofir Sofer warns that if the draft law is pushed, 'the right will pay an electoral price for this.'

Haredi protester released from military prison

Yeshiva student Rabbi Avraham Ben Dayan was released this morning (Friday) from military prison, after being held in custody since last Saturday night for failing to report for enlistment.

MK Porush:

'Can the IDF deal with detaining thousands of yeshiva students?'

MK Meir Porush submitted an urgent parliamentary query to Defense Minister Israel Katz regarding the arrest of yeshiva students and the conditions of their detention in military prison.

'Rude and arrogant'

Degel HaTorah slams Yesh Atid’s Stern

MK Elazar Stern angers members of the Degel HaTorah party after criticizing the leader of the haredi Lithuanian community, Rabbi Dov Lando.

Miki Zohar: We won't allow harm to Torah learners

Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar says 'surreal' Jews should be sent to prison for studying Torah, promises government will 'fight' the phenomenon.

Amit Segal estimates: Draft Law will not pass

Analyst Amit Segal says differences between haredi parties and Attorney General indicate that Draft Law will not pass, elections will be held early.

Rabbis and bereaved families back haredi draft law

Senior rabbis and representatives of bereaved families published a public letter today calling for unity in the nation and warning against incitement between the haredi and national-religious communities.

Rabbi David Stav:

'Haredi draft law is all a bluff'

Rabbi David Stav, chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, in a special interview with Arutz Sheva: "The Torah requires that each one of us serve."

'Don't talk about haredim when you didn't serve'

“The Patriots" host Yinon Magal criticized calls for enlistment coming from the Religious Zionist public. “There are hesder students who don’t do full military service-don’t talk about the Haredim.

Late‑night Knesset drama:

Haredi parties block budget-related bill, vote postponed

Haredi parties halt the split of the Arrangements Bill and demand progress on the Draft Law. Vote postponed to Monday after no solution reached.

Riots break out near Draft Office

Violent clashes break out between protesters and police after riots begin near Tel Hashomer Draft Office.

Wearing a hat and suit:

This is how a haredi draft dodger escaped arrest

Yeshiva students foil military police arrest in Jerusalem’s Gilo, helping draft-dodger escape amid fears of unrest.

Former Haredi Minister:

'Religious Zionism loses their souls in the army'

Former minister Shlomo Benizri claimed that those who send their children to the IDF do not care about their spiritual wellbeing.

Gafni:

'The Draft Law is just an excuse to bring down the government'

MK Moshe Gafni claims the protests over the Draft Law are a political tool, says he will act according to the guidance of leading rabbis, and leaves the door open for a return to the coalition.

AG warns:

Tens of thousands of draft dodgers, insufficient enforcement

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said some 71,000 Israelis are evading conscription-around 80% from the haredi sector-warning of selective enforcement and announcing steps to tighten sanctions.