Draft Law

Lapid: I Don't Hate Hareidim

Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid: I don't hate any Jew in the world. Torah study is important and doesn't contradict with national service.

New Initiative for Hareidi Hesder Yeshivas

Forum of Zionist rabbis and officers promoting idea to meet Minister Ya'alon Monday.

Tal Law Proposal, ‘Just Enlist Them’

The ‘equal share in the burden’ camp calls to stop trying to replace the Tal Law, and simply draft everyone. Move could mean mass arrests.

Ya'alon Meets Kadima MKs About Draft Law

Minister Moshe Ya'alon (Likud) meets four members from Kadima, shows them the outline of the new draft law he is preparing.

Vice PM: Kadima Planned Rift in the Nation

Vice PM Yaalon levels harsh criticism at Kadima, says the party planned to split the nation for political gain.

MK Shamalov-Berkovich: Kadima Didn't Exhaust the Negotiations

MK Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich is against her party’s leaving the coalition. "Many hareidim do enlist, we missed a real opportunity."

Netanyahu: Mofaz Gave Up on Historic Opportunity

PM Netanyahu sends a letter to Kadima chairman Mofaz, expresses regret that Mofaz chose to quit the unity government.

Netanyahu Weighing Elections in January

Netanyahu is figuring that if Mofaz is playing political games to force elections, he will get them sooner than he expects.

Rabbi Amar Meets Peres, Hoping to Lower Flames over Enlistment

Chief Sephardic Rabbi and President agree that debate over hareidi Torah scholars' exemptions should not become too extreme.

Netanyahu Hints Kadima on Its Way Out

Education minister says Kadima wants to split coalition, and Netanyahu voices agreement with statement.

‘Equality for All’ in IDF Draft Must Include Arabs, Says MK

Why does the demand for “equality” that demands the enlistment of Torah students not include Arabs, asks national MK Ben-Ari.

Rabbi: Hareidi Enlistment Won’t Stop Hate

Hareidi rabbi fears that hareidi IDF enlistment won’t stop hate. “They’ll just attack us more.”

Netanyahu and Mofaz Talk, Agree to Talk Even More

PM Binyamin Netanyahu and Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz hold late night meeting on draft law. Agreement yet to be reached.

Shas Minister: Enlist Hareidim, but Not 80%

Lada'at.net: Minister Ariel Atias told an interviewer he agrees to have 60% of Torah students conscripted.

Students Visit Bnei Brak, Discuss Draft Law

As politicians continued to quarrel over the draft law, Bar Ilan students visited Bnei Brak and focused on talking with the residents.

Mofaz, Netanyahu Meet, Talk About Draft Law

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz meet about the new draft law. Meeting ends without progress.

Religious Zionist Sages: Solve Enlistment Matter Peacefully

Leaders of religious Zionism meet, issue declaration: solution must not be achieved in "violent" manner.

Will the Right Wing Bloc Split?

Analysis: Likud-Kadima talks on hareidi army service could falter because of Arab enlistment issue.

Hareidim Mulling 'H-Bomb': Million Man Demo

As Likud, Kadima prepare enlistment law, "eida hareidit" wants to unite hareidim in huge protest next week.

Coalition Chairman Admits Likud-Hareidi Tension

MK Ze'ev Elkin warns a rift between Likud and hareidi parties would split right wing bloc.

Hareidim Fear Bibi Betraying Them

Shas, UTJ, thought Netanyahu would refrain from hard measures on enlistment, now think otherwise.

Ya'alon, Plesner Hold First Meeting on Draft Law

Deputy PM Ya'alon and MK Plesner, who were appointed to head a team to formulate a new draft law, hold positive first meeting.

Sephardic Yeshivas Cancel Break over Enlistment

'Bein Hazmanim' summer break canceled at Rabbi Ovadia's instructions, in view of enlistment turmoil.

Demonstration for Equal Enlistment in Tel Aviv

Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz, Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid mingle with demonstrators.

Jewish Home Seeks Compromise on Hareidi Enlistment

Newcomers to the religious-Zionist party Jewish Home primaries list work for compromise on hareidi enlistment.

Soldiers Allege Forced Sabbath Labor in IDF Prison

Soldiers say they were required to violate the Sabbath while in IDF prison.

Kadima Ultimatum: Pass Draft Law or Kadima Will Quit

Mofaz issues an ultimatum to Netanyahu: Adopt new draft law proposals or Kadima will quit coalition. Bibi must choose Shas or Kadima.

‘Draft Law’ Panel: Sanctions against Hareidi Draft Refusers

The “draft law” panel headed by a Kadima MK wants heavy fines on hareidi youth who refuse to enlist. Sanctions on Arabs were less clear.

MK Molla: 'I'm Quitting Coalition'

Kadima MK says he will start voting against the coalition, tells MKs to ask forgiveness from Livni.

Yishai: More Hareidi than Secular Enlistees by 2020s

Shas chairman says hareidi sector is undergoing a revolution, more than 10,000 hareidim in academia.

Netanyahu: Arabs and Hareidim will Share Burden

MK Amsalem: only few hareidim deserve exemption from military or national service.

Shas Denies It Agreed to Sanctions on Draft Evaders

Minister Yishai says the party did not give green light for personal sanctions against hareidi draft avoiders.

Netanyahu to Arab MKs: Lieberman is Right

Prime Minister: Arabs should do national service. "We must all share the burden."

Yisrael Beytenu Quits Plesner C'tee over Pro-Arab Bias

Jewish Home, too, says it will leave "Equality in Service" committee after committee says it won't punish Arab service evaders.

Lieberman Visits 'Suckers Tent', Signs Draft All Petition

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited the “suckers tent” and signed a petition calling for equal army service for all Israeli citizens.

Orlev: Draft-Dodging Not a Torah Value

MK Orlev has criticism for hareidi leaders who call on young men not to enlist. Those who learn Torah know they need to serve, he says.

MK Orlev: Serving in IDF is a Mitzvah

Jewish Home MK: "He who studies Torah must carry out the mitzvah of defending the Jewish state."

Religious MKs to Cooperate against Plesner

MK Uri Ariel says religious Zionist party will cooperate with hareidim in opposing altered Tal Law.

A-G Tells 'Equality' Committee: Don't Discuss Arabs

Plesner Committee may only discuss ways of making hareidim serve in the IDF – not Arab Israelis.

Plesner Planning Sanctions against Hareidim who don't Serve

Those affected would be ineligible for National Insurance stipends and other benefits. Yeshivas to be targeted too.

Video: Hareidim Enthusiastic About IDF Program

Arutz Sheva meets soldiers who serve in Shachar Kachol, which allows hareidim to serve in the army while keeping their lifestyle.

Hareidi Enlistment Continues to Rise

New programs created as hareidi youth continue to enlist in IDF. Hareidi soldiers get their own IDF rabbi.

Thousands of Hareidi Religious Jews Wait to be Drafted

Thousands of hareidi religious Jews are waiting to be drafted, according to Interior Minister Eli Yishai.

IDF Preparing to Integrate More Hareidi Soldiers

As the controversy over the annulled Tal Law continues, the IDF prepares for a new law that will expand recruitment of hareidim.

Hareidi MK Calls for IDF Equality: Cancel the Draft

Knesset Member Rabbi Yisrael Eichler has called for “quality in the IDF” by canceling the obligation to serve in the forces.

IDF Plans to Reduce Term of Enlistment

New non-combat soldiers soon may be looking forward to a discharge four months earlier if the IDF goes ahead with planned cuts.