Draft Law

TG4I: Hats off to the Haredim

'Without a compromise the government will fall'

Former Coalition Chairman MK David Bitan does not believe draft law will pass in its current form.

Joint List MK: Draft Law is a bluff

MK Dov Khenin opposes Draft Law. 'The army doesn't want to draft haredim. They should be allowed to study Torah,' he tells Arutz Sheva.

Poll: Israelis back end to deferments for yeshiva students

Following passage of controversial haredi draft law, poll shows most Israeli Jews back drafting nearly all yeshiva students into IDF.

Knesset approves first reading of Draft Law

63 MKs vote in favor of Draft Law, 39 MKs vote against.

Haredi MK threatens to bring down coalition

Deputy Health Minister MK Yaakov Litzman says UTJ party will leave coalition if draft law passes.

Liberman: Labor party's natural place with Arab parties, Meretz

Defense Minister says it is to be expected that Labor would vote against draft law.

Gabbay: Lapid a traitor to the opposition

Labor Party leader slams Yesh Atid faction for vote in favor of government draft law.

'Lapid is lying to the public'

Justice Minister Shaked slams Yesh Atid MKs for 'blatantly lying' about haredi draft law.

'I don't want Arabs flying our F-16s'

Yesh Atid lawmaker defends plan to draft haredim - while leaving most of Arab population exempt from IDF service.

'There are criminal sanctions in this draft law as well'

Yesh Atid MK claims his party's version of the draft law was better than Defense Minister Liberman's.

Ahead of critical vote, haredi lawmakers divided over draft law

On the day of the vote, Ashkenazic-haredi party still hasn't reached consensus on whether to vote against the draft bill or merely abstain.

Sephardic rabbis furious: 'They forged our signatures. Liars.'

Senior Sephardic rabbis enraged after anonymous notices bashing Draft Law has their signature affixed on it.

Draft Law approved by government

Bill expected to be submitted to Knesset for first reading tomorrow. Law will likely pass by large majority, with Yesh Atid's support.

Sephardic rabbis gather for anti-Draft Law prayer

During Knesset vote on Draft Law, Sephardic rabbis expected to hold prayer service at grave of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef against law.

Zandberg urges Lapid: Topple the government

Meretz MK calls on Yesh Atid chairman to topple the government over the draft law.

Bennett: Mass draft of haredim by force could backfire

Education Minister takes swipe at latest draft law aimed at yeshiva students, says haredi enlistment numbers rising even without new law.

United Torah Judaism to remain in coalition

MK Moses on draft law: The law will be approved in its first reading and that's fine. By the third reading it will be corrected.

Haredi draft law to be voted on next week

PM announces plans to vote on contentious draft law, says details of bill will be worked out only after preliminary vote.

Shas rabbi scorns 'gentile' government Draft Law budgets

'We have problem with enlisting yeshiva students; they threaten they won't give budgets; do we live according to these gentile's budgets?'

'Back haredi draft law - or we'll dismantle the government'

Coalition chairman demands haredi lawmakers get behind proposed draft law, threatening new elections if haredi MKs don't support proposal.

Shaked presents Lapid's deception

Justice Minister responds to Lapid's claims that the proposed draft law is the same as the one that the previous government approved.

'IDF and Chief of Staff support draft outline'

Yair Lapid says his party will support the draft law if it remains in its present form, but not if it is changed at all.

Liberman:

'The draft law is a balanced law'

DM at Yisrael Beiteinu faction meeting: Draft Law balanced and in broad consensus. Kites: 'We'll determine way to respond to kite terror.'

Labor vows to vote down haredi draft law

Avi Gabbay says his party will oppose any law which does not 'share the burden' of military service equally.

Shas MK: Haredi leadership will come to agreement on draft plan

Haredi lawmaker says proposed draft law is 'the least terrible option,' says in the worst case, his party won't vote for the law.

Haredi lawmakers divided over draft law

Ashkenazic-haredi UTJ party divided on whether to accept Defense Ministry's draft bill, quit coalition, or insist on changes.

Possible Haredi split over Draft Law

Hassidic Agudat Yisrael will oppose the current bill but Lithuanian Degel HaTorah and Shas are still undecided and rumors abound.

Haredi parties to leave coalition if draft law advances

Council of Torah Sages instructs haredi MKs, ministers to resign from the coalition if current draft law is not changed.

Haredi Council of Torah Sages to decide fate of coalition

Haredi council determines whether Defense Ministry's proposed draft law is acceptable compromise or requires haredim to leave coalition.

Recruitment recommendations include economic sanctions

Joint Defense Ministry and IDF committee recommends new recruitment targets, gradually increasing number of those serving in haredi sector.

Report: If haredi 'Draft Law' passes, DM will leave coalition

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman will leave the coalition if haredi 'Draft Law' passes - and the haredi parties will leave if it does not.

Police investigate haredi group over anti-IDF street performance

Edah Haharedit reportedly organized street performance in which children were encouraged to hurl fruit at actor dressed as IDF soldier.

Shaked: Draft of haredim will not be forced

'The Supreme Court should not have intervened in the draft law. Intervention only causes problems.'

Coalition Chairman: Haredi draft law may not pass this session

Coalition chairman tells haredi parties not to make an ultimatum, points out that half of northern Tel Aviv doesn't serve in the IDF either.

Haredi businessmen are threatening yeshiva deans, says rabbi

Sephardic-haredi rabbi says prominent religious businessmen demanding yeshiva deans not criticize IDF service in talks with their students.

Knesset opens summer session:

On agenda: Nationality, Overrule Clause, draft, conversion

Knesset enters challenging summer session of controversial legislation. Festive atmosphere expected for US embassy transfer in two weeks.

'Calling haredi MKs blackmailers is incitement'

UTJ MK Uri Maklev says haredi Draft Law should be passed during the Knesset's summer session. 'Everyone knows the timetables.'

Litzman sets a red line

Deputy Health Minister reiterates that he will leave the government if the draft law isn't approved by the end of the Knesset session.

9 injured during haredi anti-draft riots

Hundreds protest against IDF draft office in Jerusalem, clashing with police as officers hurl stun grenades at rioters. 4 officers injured.

Video: Extremists besiege religious soldier

Extremist haredi youths turned violent at the sight of a kippah-wearing soldier in uniform. An eyewitness recounts the experience.

Haredim attack haredi Knesset Member Meir Porush

Dozens of haredim attack Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush as he exits morning prayers in Beit Shemesh.

Minister Yariv Levin:

'Netanyahu will lead Israel for many years to come'

Tourism Minister says investigations against PM show nothing, Israel has seen incredible achievements recently.

28 arrested as haredi demonstrators block roads in Bnei Brak

Yerushalmi Faction protesters take to the streets to condemn arrest of haredi draft dodger. Highway 4 blocked as part of protests.

Likud MK: Free Elor for Passover

MK Nurit Koren urges the military prosecution to show mercy and release former IDF soldier Elor Azariya from prison.

Gabbay: Today we saw who really is afraid of elections

Zionist Union chairman blasts agreement which prevent elections, says "the days of this bad government are very short".

Haredim welcome draft law approval

Haredi parties pleased after draft law approved in first reading, promise to continue the legislative process during summer session.

Haredi 'Draft Law' passes first reading in Knesset

Bill which sparked coalition crisis, divided government passes first reading in the Knesset, despite opposition from Yisrael Beytenu.

No Early Elections:

Government averts coalition crisis, avoids snap elections

Following meeting between Netanyahu, Liberman, government committee approves compromise deal averting government collapse.

Will last-minute deal prevent snap elections?

Netanyahu in talks with Defense Minister to end coalition crisis, prevent government collapse.

Coalition Crisis:

Netanyahu government faces critical Knesset votes

Votes in the Knesset over the next 24 hours could determine whether coalition survives - or if early elections are inevitable.

Yisrael Beytenu MK:

'The future of the government depends on the other partners'

MK Oded Forer calls on the parties in the coalition to oppose the draft law in its present form.

Will Netanyahu and Liberman prevent elections?

Prime Minister and Defense Minister to meet overnight, attempt to end coalition crisis.

Defense Minister: We won't sacrifice values for Knesset seats

Yisrael Beytenu MKs will vote against draft law, but won't quit coalition unless forced to do so, Defense Minister Liberman says.

Yerushalmi Faction to shut down Bnei Brak roads Monday

Extremist anti-draft haredi group plans follow-up demonstration in Bnei Brak, after group shut down traffic in Jerusalem last week.

'IDF can't handle so many haredi soldiers at once'

Education Minister Bennett says coalition crisis is 'hollow,' no reason to push for immediate draft of all haredi yeshiva students.

Haredi draft bill passes first hurdle

Following compromise agreement between PM, haredi factions, draft exemption law approved by Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

Yisrael Beytenu threatens to bolt coalition over Draft Law

'If haredi-backed draft law passes, we'll leave the government,' warns Defense Minister's Yisrael Beytenu faction.

Minister Landver:

'We were and remain committed to Netanyahu'

Immigration and Absorption Minister says Yisrael Beytenu will run alone in the next election, discusses draft law controversy.

Haredim give green light to draft law

Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel approves draft law which will be brought for approval by Ministerial Committee for Legislation.