Draft Law

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.

Minister Elkin's tip to the haredi parties

Minister Ze'ev Elkin casts doubt on possibility that Draft Law will pass, urges them to support budget bill regardless: Here's why.

Bismuth imposes sanctions on MKs who stormed his office

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Bismuth removes Yesh Atid MKs from subcommittee positions after storming his office a day earlier.

Final decision

Degel HaTorah & Shas to support the budget in first reading

From Rabbi Lando’s office, it was announced that Degel HaTorah will support the budget law in the first reading and will insist that the Draft Law be completed before the final reading of the budget bill.

Leading rabbi: Nothing takes precedence over Torah study

Rabbi Dov Lando speaks to yeshiva students, stressing that 'Torah study is the most important thing in the world, and nothing takes precedence over Torah study.'

Democrat Representative defends Yeshiva students

Patrick Ryan wrote to Prime Minister Netanyahu to ask that he ensure Yeshiva students with American citizenship can travel freely despite sanctions for avoiding IDF service.

MK Solomon to Arutz Sheva:

Conditioning budget on Draft Law will harm us all

Attempts to use state budget as leverage will harm haredim as much as anyone else, MK Moshe Solomon warns.

Likud MK to Arutz Sheva:

'Postpone the Draft Law to the next government'

In an interview with Arutz Sheva, MK Moshe Saada argues that the budget crisis is not real and that the budget will pass on Wednesday. He adds that the current version of the Draft Law will not withstand Supreme Court scrutiny.

Number of draft-dodgers rises, data reveals

Number of draft-dodgers rose from 13,000 to 68,000 in just two years, IDF official says.

Budget drama

Smotrich warns: We'll dissolve the Knesset

Budget vote delayed to Wednesday due to haredi parties' demand to pass Draft Law.

Liberman sets conditions for the next government

Yisrael Beytenu chairman appeals to Eisenkot, Bennett, Golan, and Lapid, demanding they commit to a comprehensive and equal Draft Law as part of the next government’s basic guidelines.

Rabbi Lando to yeshiva students: Ignore outside 'persecution'

Speaking to yeshiva students in Bnei Brak, Rabbi Dov Lando warned of growing pressure on the haredi public and urged exclusive dedication to Torah study.

'No one will go to the army':

Recordings of haredi rabbis revealed

The haredi rabbis leading the conscription bill were heard in recordings estimating that there will be no genuine attempt to enlist the haredi community, while the suspended budgets would still be reinstated.

Chief of Staff warned: Mandatory service must be extended

IDF Chief of Staff Zamir sent a sharply worded letter to the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister, warning that delays in the Draft Law and the lack of an extension to mandatory service create an immediate risk.

Gantz reveals:

'The haredim offered me the chance to lead the government'

Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz says that over the past year, he was offered the chance to lead the government in exchange for supporting the Draft Law, but he rejected the proposal.

Goldknopf threatens:

'We may oppose the budget'

The chairman of United Torah Judaism stresses that he will act according to the guidance of the rabbis on the draft issue.

Secular reservist: Without hesder yeshivas, there's no army

Alon Malik, a non-religious infantry reservist, defends IDF's hesder track, says attempts to harm it will deal deadly blow to IDF.

Government clarifies: Majority of draft-evaders not haredim

At government discussion, data reveals around 90,000 eligible for conscription, less than half of evaders from haredi community.

Rabbi Kalmanson attacks draft law:

'A danger to Israel; Hashem will not forgive them.'

'Hashem will not forgive them, and history will not forget this injustice. The State of Israel has not yet finished dealing with its enemies - we need soldiers, says bereaved father Rabbi Benny Kalmanson on the proposed draft law.

Netanyahu breaks haredi rebellion

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaches agreement with Agudat Yisrael party, appoints MK Yisrael Eichler Deputy Communications Minister.

Haredi leaders disagree on Draft Law

Meeting between Lithuanian-haredi leaders and hasidic rebbes concludes without agreement on Draft Law position.

Draft Law:

Degel HaTorah, Agudat Yisrael hold meeting 'behind closed doors'

Critical meeting due to be held in Bnei Brak between leaders of the Lithuanian and Hasidic communities in an effort to formulate a unified position of the haredi parties on the draft law.

Rabbi Dov Lando: Don't participate in demonstrations

Rabbi Dov Lando criticized those participating in demonstrations and hinted at the actions of the extremist 'Jerusalem Faction.'

Dr. Haim Shine:

Enlisting haredim requires great patience

Attorney Dr. Haim Shine discusses the Draft Law, and crucial points for Israel's future.

Shas spokesman: Only Sephardic yeshiva students are arrested

Shas party spokesman Asher Medina says current situation is untenable, extremely dangerous for the haredi community.

Watch:

News crew attacked, security guard injured

The crew reporting on the demonstration was attacked by haredi extremists who threw stones and broke their camera. A security guard accompanying the crew was hit on the head by a rock.

Traffic chaos expected as haredi protest planned in Jerusalem

Israeli police announced major traffic closures and heavy deployment ahead of a haredi protest against the conscription bill in Jerusalem this evening.

Bennett

'Next government will repeal Draft Law on day 1'

The plan Bennett presented for reserve soldiers includes one million shekels for purchasing a home, priority in state tenders, and a free bachelor’s degree. "The Israeli pyramid is being flipped."

Rabbi Mazuz: 'I love the army!'

Rabbi Tzemach Mazuz attends event honoring yeshiva students released from military prison, says he 'loves every soldier.'

Rabbi Lando: Happy are those arrested for learning Torah

Rabbi Dov Lando leading Lithuanian-haredi rabbi, praises yeshiva students arrested for draft evasion, says Torah itself placed 'behind bars' with their arrests.

Draft Law: MK Elazar Stern’s demand

MK Elazar Stern asks the Knesset’s legal adviser to prevent haredi lawmakers from voting on the Draft Law, citing concerns about a conflict of interest.

Record enlistment to haredi IDF tracks

The IDF informed the Knesset that a record number of haredi soldiers have enlisted, with hundreds already serving in combat and support roles, as debate continues over the Defense Service Bill.

'Yellow Star For Scholars':

Haredi MK denounces sanctions on draft dodgers

MK Yitzchak Goldknopf said during a hearing on the conscription law that the sanctions provisions in it are 'a yellow star for Torah scholars', drawing an immediate uproar.

Clashes at IDF recruitment center over haredi draft

Protesters from extreme factions demonstrated today (Sunday) at the IDF Recruitment Center in Tel Hashomer against the enlistment of haredi youth into units designated for the haredi community.

Economic sanctions for yeshivas: Here's how it will work

Defense Ministry Director General to be able to impose sanctions on yeshivas if students fail to meet legal requirements for full-time Torah study.

Haredi MK:

There are more draft-dodgers in Tel Aviv than among haredim

United Torah Judaism chief MK Yitzhak Goldknopf meets 12th graders from Ulpanat Ra'aya in Beit El, answers their questions about the lack of haredi enlistment.

Petition to Supreme court against selective enforcement

Petition filed with Supreme Court notes that enforcement solely against haredim, including budget cuts for daycare subsidies and schools, constitutes collective punishment.

Haredi leader burns draft notice

Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, leader of the Edah HaChareidis faction, burned a draft summons of a yeshiva student just released from military prison and instructed him to continue not reporting for enlistment.

IDF Admits:

Draft law does not meet IDF needs

The head of the IDF's Manpower Planning and Management Division warned at a Knesset hearing that the proposed haredi draft law does not fulfill the army's needs for the next two years.

Policeman slaps child, chokes him, and throws him to the ground

Severe clashes recorded at extremist haredi protest near Bnei Brak; footage of police officer acting violently towards young child sparks outrage online.

Draft pilot test almost launched

IDF considered recruiting thousands of children of foreign workers living in Israel. A small pilot, with Population Authority and Tel Aviv Municipality, did not materialize, due to legal, political and other considerations.

Defense Minister:

'Israel will never leave the territory of Gaza'

Minister Israel Katz assured that even after returning the Gaza Strip to Arab control, Israel will continue to hold a buffer zone inside the enclave.