Draft Law

A message to our haredi brothers

We must state clearly and unequivocally: there is no halakhic or moral justification for exempting part of the nation from military service and participation in the mitzvah of assisting Israel in need.

Haredi enlistment is not the question

Why does Netanyahu, a decorated IDF hero, go along with the haredi exemption national shame? Why is he working on an Enlistment Law that perpetuates the haredi exemptions?

Bereaved brother:

Avi believed in being a rabbi and a fighter, it was one identity

Eliezer, brother of Rabbi Avi Goldberg, who fell in Lebanon, says: 'He was a fighter-Rabbi, a Rabbi-fighter. Avi believed that you can learn Torah, and do it in the army.'

Haredi draft law:

Message from Rabbi Goldberg's widow to Rabbi Amar

Rachel Goldberg, widow of Rabbi Avi Goldberg z"l, who fell in Lebanon, speaks to Jerusalem Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, about the draft law, when he came to pay a shiva call.

Finance Minister rejects Draft Law ultimatum: 'Not happening'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responds to Housing Minister's demand that the Draft Law pass before the State budget.

Housing Minister:

'This is the minimum - we're demanding what we deserve'

'We do our part, we want to know that we'll also receive our part,' Housing Minister and United Torah Judaism chief Yitzhak Goldknopf says.

Haredi Draft Law:

Smotrich's response to the Haredi threats

'I strongly reject attempts to set an irresponsible ultimatum for the approval of the state budget necessary for war and the resilience of the economy.'

Original way to evade arrest:

Arab illegal infiltrator joins haredi demonstration

A resident of Bethlehem in his 30s who had entered Israeli sovereign territory illegally was caught attempting to fit in at a demonstration against haredi military conscription.

Haredi MK: We may need to leave the coalition

'Eliminating daycare subsidies for yeshiva students' children may force haredi parties to leave the coalition,' MK Israel Eichler warns.

Haredi MKs meet leading rabbi to discuss Draft Law

Degel Hatorah MKs meet Rabbi Dov Lando, discussing the Temple Mount, Draft Law, and potential expansion of the coalition.

Government seeks to bypass AG for daycare subsidies

The government is trying to find creative ways to bypass the Attorney General who will oppose any move that allows subsidizing daycare centers for families of yeshiva students.

Report:

Netanyahu and Goldknopf reach agreement on Draft Law

Hamodia newspaper reports that an agreement was reached between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf on the formulation and promotion of the Draft Law in the coming days.

Haredi minister:

'If there weren't a war right now, we'd leave the government'

Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, United Torah Judaism chief, toughens stance after progress on Draft Law stalls.

UTJ to Netanyahu:

'Without a draft law - there will be no budget'

Sources in United Torah Judaism send message to the Prime Minister indicating that the party expects him to advance a draft law as agreed upon in the coalition agreements.

Government authority:

Canceling daycare subsidies will harm haredi working women

Letter to government ministers warns of unsafe daycare centers, less haredi women in the workforce, if daycare subsidies are cut without appropriate warning.

Shoftim:

Modern day "Levites" need to do more for society

The feeling of entitlement, of taking without giving, is contrary to the most fundamental teachings of the Torah.

'Pains me to see this'

Grandmother of wounded soldier attacked by haredi protesters

Yocheved, whose grandson was wounded twice in Gaza and is currently recovering, spoke her mind to haredi anti-draft protesters who threw water and spat at her.

Violence breaks out at anti-draft protest in Jerusalem

Passersby assaulted haredim protesting against the IDF's decision to draft them into military service.

Haredim vs. AG:

'Unfortunate decision, child abuse'

Haredi parties criticized the decision to stop subsidizing daycares for yeshiva students eligible for enlistment. "A direct blow to Haredi women who go out to work for their livings."

Attorney General:

No daycare subsidies for draft candidates

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed Labor Minister Ben-Tzur from Shas that the state no longer has the authority to finance aid for the children of yeshiva students who do not enlist.

Hundreds of protesters break into Tel Hashomer Induction Center

Hundreds of haredi extremists protest on Tuesday morning outside Tel Hashomer Induction Center against the drafting of haredim who received conscription orders.

IDF disappointed:

Very few haredim showed up for draft

Out of 500 haredim who were called to the IDF recruiting office, only thirty showed up. Others came, but saw the stormy protest outside and turned back.

Haredi Rabbis against Draft Law:

'Impossible to keep Torah laws during IDF service'

Leading Haredi Rabbis publish a letter today opposing enlistment in haredi IDF units, since 'it is impossible to remain Torah-observant and perform mitzvot properly during military service.'

Police declare illegal assembly

Haredi extremists protest outside recruiting office

Members of the Jerusalem Faction held a demonstration ahead of the arrival of haredim who were summoned to report for pre-draft evaluations.

Haredi draft:

1,000 summoned, demonstrations expected

The IDF made it clear that if only a few of those who were summoned report, more orders will be sent. In the meantime, forces in the haredi community are calling for massive protests.

'Show up at Draft Office'

Haredi minister opposes Shas rabbis' position

Haredi youth who receive a draft order must appear at the Draft Office, Welfare Minister Yakov Margi says. 'The law of the land is the law - first of all show up, tell them what is bothering you.'

Likud MK:

IDF did not keep its promise to haredim

'Secular public must understand that may haredim who enlisted in the IDF did not return to their community, because the IDF did not keep its promise,' MK Galit Distel Atbaryan says.

Haredi MK:

We won't bring down the government, and we won't sit with Left

Haredi MK Yitzhak Pindrus says Israeli Left 'bothered by anything connected to tradition,' calls them 'irrelevant.'

Minister Sofer: 'Students won't be dragged from Yeshivas'

Minister Sofer: 'The haredim are partners in the military campaign. We can reach respectable numbers without harming the world of Torah.'

Haredim report receiving draft orders by text message

Haredim, aged 25, including yeshiva students, received text messages calling them to report to the Recruiting Office for their first draft order.

Minister of Defense:

1,000 draft orders will be sent to haredim on Sunday

Minister of Defense approves IDF's recommendation to issue initial orders to haredim starting Sunday morning.

Head of Manpower Directorate:

I hope to see secular soldiers with haredi ones in the same tank

The Head of the Manpower Directorate (J1), MG Yaniv Asor spoke to future enlistees about the efforts to draft haredi soldiers into the IDF. 'IDF service is an enormous privilege, an honor, and not a burden.'

Three major hassidic courts:

Report for IDF preliminary evaluation

The leaders of the Ger, Belz, and Viznitz hassidim have told their followers to continue reporting for their pre-draft evaluations in the hope of reaching an agreement with the IDF.

'Don't say how many'

IDF representative's notes reveal talking points on haredi draft

During a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting IDF representatives refused to reveal how many pre-draft evaluation orders would be sent to haredim on Sunday.