Draft Law

Haredi parties boycott Knesset votes over yeshiva draft crisis

UTJ vows to continue boycott until draft issue is resolved, as Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara orders conscription notices for tens of thousands of haredi men starting in July.

IDF launches crackdown to arrest Yeshiva draft dodgers

The IDF has launched an operation to apprehend draft dodgers, aiming to create deterrence against growing enlistment refusal. Shas has warned that even one arrest of a yeshiva student will lead his party to exit the government.

Netanyahu responds to reports:

'There are no gaps between us and the Americans'

Prime Minister Netanyahu denied reports of a growing rift between his government and the Trump administration, and claimed that all reports are a campaign led by one specific channel.

Knesset Showdown:

Haredi parties extend boycott of coalition votes over draft law

United Torah Judaism and Shas are continuing their boycott of Knesset votes this week, escalating a coalition crisis over the stalled legislation to exempt yeshiva students from military service.

Coalition crisis:

Deri rejects Edelstein's demands for haredi draft

Netanyahu, Deri, and Edelstein meet in an attempt to resolve the coalition crisis and reach an agreement on haredi enlistment in the IDF.

Religious Zionist MK:

'Even if the rabbis enlist,they would call it draft evasion'

Religious Zionist Party MK Simcha Rothman explained why the term 'Draft Evasion Law' used by the opposition is incorrect.

Likud MK:

'Likud is not a doormat'

Likud MK Dan Illouz criticized the haredi parties for their demands that Likud support all their legislation.

Father of drafted haredi:

'His choice is brave, it makes me very happy'

Hundreds of young haredi men reported to the Tel Hashomer draft office and embarked on their journey into IDF service, 'It's not to be taken for granted.'

Dismal Data:

IDF fails in increasing haredi draft numbers

Out of 10,000 draft orders sent to haredim in past six months, less than one thousand reported for service. Haredi Hashmonaim brigade having difficulty filling its ranks.

Supreme Court to gov't: Explain why haredim haven't been drafted

Supreme Court demands Israeli government explain why haredim have not been drafted on a scale appropriate for IDF's needs.

Defense Minister refuses to extend Hesder student service

Military officials approached the Minister of Defense asking to extend the mandatory service of students from Hesder Yeshivas but were rejected.

Ben Gurion Airport

Two yeshiva students arrested for draft dodging

Two yeshiva students who failed to report to the IDF recruitment office were arrested at Ben Gurion Airport while attempting to leave the country.

Shas rabbi:

Party must leave gov't if a single yeshiva student is arrested

Rabbi Moshe Maya, leader on the Shas party's Council of Torah Sages, says party must leave government if yeshiva students are arrested for avoiding IDF draft.

Haredi soldier injured in Gaza: 'I don't regret it for a moment'

Haim Treitel, a haredi soldier in the Givati Brigade who was wounded in Gaza, talks about his decision to renounce his status as a yeshiva student and enlist in the IDF.

Haredi MK:

'We have no ideological covenant with the religious parties'

MK Yakov Asher warns of incitement against haredim, clarifies boundaries of haredi parties' partnership with the Religious Zionist parties and the Likud.

Haredi soldiers:

'They threw stones and diapers at me'

Meir Shemtsov, a haredi who served in the IDF, called for haredi leaders to work against the stigma that drafting holds in haredi communities.

'Ungrateful'

Haredi MK attacks religious Zionist minister

UTJ's Moshe Gafni lambasted Minister Ofir Sofer for participating in a march calling for haredi conscription. 'He's a minister thanks to us.'

Rabbi Stav to Arutz Sheva:

No tribe should be exempt from holy mission of military service

Rabbi David Stav spoke to Arutz Sheva from the 'March for Conscription' and explained why he chose to hit the streets to call on the IDF to draft haredim.

'I'm a radical leftist?'

Protest march of bereaved families for enlistment

Hagai Luber and Leli Dery, the parents of fallen soldiers, responded to the claims that the protest march of the bereaved parents 'Marching for Conscription' that is taking place today.

Liberman calls for arrest of leading haredi rabbis

MK Avigdor Liberman, head of Yisrael Beytenu, calls for arrest of former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, haredi leader Rabbi Dov Lando, for their anti-draft statements.

Yeshiva Dean:

'Sephardim will not be harmed by the draft law'

The Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Betzalel Pinchasi clarified that the Sephardic public will not be the main targets of the law, emphasizing: 'We will give our lives if needed.'

Anti-conscription rally:

Haredi rioters attack police with rocks

A rally against haredi conscription turned violent when dozens of rioters blocked roads, shattered the window of a bus, and threw rocks and other projectiles at police.

Yair Lapid:

If government doesn't obey Supreme Court, everything will end

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid slams Defense Minister Israel Katz, says he will be 'stained forever if he advances Draft Evasion Law.'

'We'll die and not enlist'

Housing Minister filmed dancing to anti-Zionist song

Construction and Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf was filmed at a relative's wedding dancing to a song against the state of Israel and the IDF. He later disavowed the incident as fellow ministers called for his ouster.

Haredim Agree:

No official ultimatum will be set for the draft law

After a meeting of three prominent haredi leaders earlier today, it was decided that no official ultimatum would be set for the legislation of the draft law.

Lack of IDF forces:

Will low profile soldiers be drafted to combat roles?

Government plans to exempt haredim from military service, while IDF considers drafting low profile soldiers to combat roles, despite lack of forces.

Pioneer:

IDF gets first haredi battalion commander

'I hope that one day young haredim will see me as a role model,' Major (res.) Yossi Levy, soon to become the first haredi battalion commander in the IDF, says.

Bennett:

'Don't pass budget allowing draft evasion during war'

Former PM calls on govt. not to pass budget allowing part of the country to avoid military service right after combat operations in Gaza resumed. 'Only when united can we win.'

Attorney General demands sanctions against draft dodgers

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara contacted the Legal Advisor of the Defense Minister and demanded the advancement of personal sanctions against draft dodgers.

Pain mixed with joy:

How a fallen hero's family celebrated Purim

Rachel Goldberg, wife of fallen soldier Avi Goldberg, talks about celebrating Purim despite the difficult pain of the loss and explains the significance behind the family's special costume.

Religious Zionism:

30% say disperse government, but don't exempt haredim

New Jewish People Policy Institute poll reveals majority of public believes that government's main motive in promoting draft law is coalition survival.

Defense Minister:

'One-sided draft notices are a failure'

Defense Minister Israel Katz criticized the intention of the IDF to send 14,000 additional recruitment orders to haredim by May.

IDF Confirms:

Draft target of 4800 haredim in one year cannot be met

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held a discussion on the haredi draft law today, evaluating economic incentives for recruiting yeshiva students into the IDF.

Agudat Yisrael MKs threaten:

'We will oppose the budget if the Draft Law isn’t passed'

Agudat Yisrael faction sends a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, making it clear that it will not vote in favor of the budget unless the Draft Law is enacted.

Rabbi David Yosef:

'Criticism is acceptable, but you need to choose your words'

Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef criticizes brother Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef for statement on IDF enlistment, telling him to 'choose words carefully.'

Haredi minister votes against funds for his community

In vote on coalition funds, all haredi ministers support funneling money to haredi community - except Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf. 'He's opposing budgets for the haredi community?'

Religious Affairs Minister:

If Goldknopf's rabbis told him to leave gov't - he should do it

Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malkieli reveals 'near-complete coordination' between Shas, Degel Hatorah, says failure to make progress on Draft Law due to interference by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

New haredi brigade concludes first training cycle

The Hashmonaim Brigade is intended as a destination for 'God-fearing haredim' and includes a number of special regulations intended to preserve a haredi lifestyle while in uniform.

Culture Minister:

'We need a haredi corps'

Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar suggests establishing a dedicated IDF corps for haredim amidst the political impasse around the conscription law.

Military police raid haredi neighborhood in Ashdod

MPs knocked on doors in the city in an effort to locate yeshiva students who had ignored repeated summonses to report for duty.

Haredim block main road after arrest of non-haredi draft dodger

Radical haredim from the Jerusalem Faction blocked Route 4 near Bnei Brak after police arrested a non-haredi draft dodger at Ben Gurion airport.

UTJ threatens to vote against budget

Chairman of United Torah Judaism, Yitzhak Goldknopf, sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that the state budget does not reflect their agreements.

Goldknopf's threat:

'This is the only way the government will last its term'

'Either we delay the Draft Law and hold elections in the summer, or we demand the Draft Law before the budget, and the government lasts its term.'

Knesset Speaker: 'Gaza will be a better place without the devil'

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana speaks at the 22nd Besheva and Arutz Sheva Jerusalem Conference, warning Iranian threat 'most significant and existential' to Israel and calling to expand IDF's ranks, including by bringing in haredi 'brothers and partners.'

Enlistment controversy:

Karliner Rebbe attacked with teargas

Extremists attacked car of Karlin-Stolin Rebbe, who they accused of encouraging haredi enlistment in the IDF, with teargas.

Rabbi Abergel: Draft haredim who are not studying Torah

Rabbi Haim Yosef David Abergel, head of a community in Netivot, calls on haredim who are not seriously learning Torah to enlist in the IDF's new haredi brigade.

Rabbi Medan to Rabbi Lando:

'They may learn the Torah, but they are not following it'

Rabbi Yaakov Medan of Har Etzion Yeshiva responded to Rabbi Dov Lando's views against Zionism and army service, emphasizing the need to appreciate soldiers while acknowledging divine action.

Minister Eli Cohen:

My hand will be cut off before I sit with Mansour Abbas

Energy Minister Eli Cohen says he won't enter coalition with Ra'am party in the future, Israel should disconnect Gaza's electricity and end humanitarian aid if hostages aren't released in deal's second stage.

Finance Min. calls for personal sanctions on haredi draft dodgers

The Ministry of Finance Budget Division announced that it is seeking tougher penalties against draft dodgers as only 1 in 6 haredim who received draft notices reported for duty.

'Pick a Side:'

Haredi newspaper criticizes haredi draft conference

The haredi newspaper 'Yated Ne'eman' launched a fierce critique against the Haredi Institute for Policy Studies after a conference in Jerusalem on drafting haredim into the IDF.

UTJ Leader:

'Rabbis will decide if budget can come before draft law'

MK Moshe Gafni stated that if PM Netanyahu asks to pass the budget before the draft law, the decision will be brought before the great Rabbis.

The haredi loophole for subsidy cancelations

Haredi families have found a method for yeshiva students to obtain eligibility for daycare subsidies despite not serving in the IDF.

Head of haredi yeshiva:

'Torah student contributes 1m times more than Chief of Staff'

'When you study Torah, you are part of the nation more than anyone else,' Rabbi Yehuda Amit, head of the haredi yeshiva in Kiryat Malachi, says.

Attorney General:

Daycare subsidies for yeshiva students ends this month

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara instructs Director General of Israel's Labor Ministry to end daycare subsidies for young yeshiva students who are required to serve in the IDF.

Hasidic newspaper criticizes draft law progress

The Hasidic newspaper Hamodia published a scathing editorial urging haredi parties to demand the passage of the draft law before approving the state budget.

Haredi students warned to check for warrants before travel

Following the arrest of a yeshiva student at Ben-Gurion Airport last week, the Council of Yeshivas has issued new and stringent guidelines regarding the travel of yeshiva students abroad.

Leading haredi rabbi:

'Zionist rabbis teach a twisted version of the Torah'

The dean of the Slabodka Yeshiva Rabbi Dov Lando attacked the religious Zionist community and claimed that it would be better if the Arabs would rule Israel.

First haredi yeshiva student arrested trying to leave Israel

Haredi yeshiva student attempting to fly out of Israel to avoid enlisting into the IDF is arrested at Ben Gurion International Airport, sent to prison at Beit Lid base.

Haredi MK: This is why UTJ won't join the Left

MK Yitzhak Pindrus explains why the haredi United Torah Judaism party will not join aleft-wing government. 'Our rabbis gave a clear instruction.'

Defense Minister's updated plan for haredi draft

According to new plan, 50% of 18-year-old haredim will draft within seven years.