Draft Law

Yeshiva student arrested in late-night military raid

Military Police officers in civilian clothes raided a family home in Haifa late at night and arrested a 22-year-old yeshiva graduate.

Over draft status:

Tax Authority tightens rules for haredi yeshivas

New requirements expand a policy previously applied only to new institutions, potentially affecting haredi yeshivas across Israel.

Haredi draft evaders:

Yeshiva student arrested and handed over to Military Police

Escalation in draft battle: Yeshiva student arrested, clashes erupt at Maccabim checkpoint.

Bennett to Eisenkot: No exemptions, no deals

'Together' chairman Naftali Bennett blasts 'Yashar!' chair Gadi Eisenkot's haredi draft plan and its 30% exemption proposal: 'We know exactly how it ends: with nothing.'

AG demands action

80% of draft dodgers found to come from haredi community

A summary of the latest draft year finds that haredim account for about 80% of all draft evaders. The Attorney General is demanding expanded sanctions and the resumption of proactive arrests.

Shas officials jump ship

Three members of Shas' Kiryat Gat slate defect to rival Ahi party, citing Shas' opposition to IDF enlistment for haredim not studying in yeshiva.

New Haredi party could shake up Shas and UTJ

A haredi politician met with senior rabbis opposed to IDF conscription, as part of talks to establish a new party aimed at restoring the deferment for yeshiva students.

MK Simcha Rothman:

'Reserve duty burden must be shared by more people'

Religious Zionism MK says gradual haredi enlistment could ease burden on reservists and enable more soldiers to return to their families, calls for 61-seat right-wing majority that is loyal to the national camp.

Gilad Erdan announces new party and his promise

Former UN envoy Gilad Erdan launches a new right-wing party with Yuli Edelstein, calling for universal service and a broad Zionist government.

Likud minister: 'Whoever isn't learning Torah must enlist'

Energy Minister Eli Cohen backs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to haredi enlistment, says haredi leadership apparently not opposed.

Haredi allies turn on Netanyahu over Draft Law

Haredi factions disagree on response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements on law preventing arrest of haredi draft evaders, exposing internal rift.

New party on the horizon?

Erdan sets red line for the government

Ex-Likud member and former ambassador Gilad Erdan vows that he will not sit in a narrow government.

Netanyahu:

Arrest Law will not be reinstated

PM Netanyahu said the law freezing draft evader arrests failed to boost haredi enlistment, pledging new legislation after the elections: 'Those who do not study Torah will enlist - or go to prison.'

Haredi enlistment rises sharply following growing enforcement

The number of haredi recruits joining the IDF has risen steadily in recent years, with annual increases of more than 1,000 recruits.

Court challenges freezing enforcement against draft evaders

An expanded panel of nine Supreme Court justices, headed by Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg, heard petitions Tuesday challenging a temporary measure that freezes arrest and enforcement proceedings against yeshiva students.

MK Uri Maklev attacks Religious Zionism

MK Uri Maklev slams approach of combining Torah study with military service, saying it is 'the greatest damage' facing the haredi public and 'will not be forgiven.' Rabbi Chaim Navon calls his bluff.

After backlash, Rabbi Lando says his words were distorted

Rabbi Dov Lando says his private remarks were distorted and urges yeshiva students to avoid ideological arguments with those who oppose Torah values.

Haredi Leader:

'There are wicked people in knitted kippot encouraging murder'

In a rare interview, haredi leader Rabbi Dov Lando sharply criticized efforts to draft yeshiva students into the IDF.

Blow to new recruits

Mandatory military service will not be shortened

The Knesset has given final approval to legislation keeping mandatory military service for men at 32 months.

Another Religious Zionist MK announces exit from party

MK Moshe Solomon announces he will not seek reelection in the Religious Zionist party, citing differences over Torah study, IDF service and party values.

IDF Spokesman: Attacks on Chief of Staff harm the entire military

IDF Spokesman Effie Defrin defended the Chief of Staff's warning on haredi draft legislation, saying political attacks undermine the entire military.

Mass protest planned for near military prison

Thousands of Sanz hasidim expected to protest outside Military Prison 10 after military court extends detention of two community members.

Ex-IDF spokesman calls for separate IDs for draft evaders

Former IDF spokesman Maj. Gen. (res.) Moti Almoz calls for issuing separate identity cards for military servicemembers and draft evaders, says Israel should stop funding those who refuse to serve.

Supreme Court freezes law barring arrest of haredi draft-evaders

Supreme Court justice temporarily freezes implementation of newly-passed law halting the arrest of haredi draft evaders, orders State to justify.

Above the law

Knesset passes law to halt arrests of haredi draft dodgers

The Knesset approved a bill preventing arrests of haredi draft dodgers, with coalition support and opposition petitions filed against the move.

'When it affects their wallet'

Rabbi Paran's solution to the draft crisis

Rabbi Ya'ir Paran, great-grandson of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, says that the Basic Law: Torah Study, 'disgraces the Torah' and calls for the state to draft haredim while preserving their way of life.

Shas MK: Draft everyone who isn't studying in yeshiva

Shas MK Yaakov Margi opposes advancing 'Torah Study Law,' sharply rebukes anti-draft protesters chanting, 'We will die and not enlist.'

Religious Zionist MK: I paid a price for voting my conscience

Religious Zionist MK Moshe Solomon says he was removed from Knesset committees after opposing the original Draft Law, urges Knesset to encourage independent thinking.

Report:

Hundreds of thousands of tax shekels funding draft protests

A nonprofit which received about 796,000 shekels from the state budget in 2024 is also used as a donation address for an organization against the conscription of Yeshiva students.

Watch:

Knesset passes Basic Law of Torah Study

The plenum passed one of the flagship laws of the haredi parties, as part of understandings reached with Netanyahu ahead of the dissolution of the Knesset.

Chief of Staff warns against draft exemption bill

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has issued a rare public warning against proposed legislation freezing the arrest of draft evaders, arguing it would encourage avoidance of military service.

The battle over yeshiva funding

AG supports, Smotrich opposes: High Court discusses revoking tax benefits from haredi yeshivas whose students evaded conscription.

JPPI Poll:

Almost 50% of Israelis support tightened sanctions on haredim

A new JPPI survey finds that about half of Israelis support tougher sanctions to encourage Haredi enlistment, while roughly a third are lenient toward protest roadblocks in the name of equal enforcement.

Haredim back down:

Controversial clause to be removed from Basic Law on Torah Study

Following a dispute with the Likud, it was decided that the Basic Law on Torah Study will include only the provision stating that Torah study is a fundamental value in Jewish Heritage.

Watch:

Veterans with PTSD breakup Knesset meeting on Torah Study Law

War-wounded veterans were incensed over the position of members of Knesset and demanded that they pass laws for their sake as well as they are rushing to enact the new Basic Law.

Shas MK to bereaved rabbi, 'you are arrogant and insolent'

MK Yosef Taieb repeatedly interrupted Rabbi Yirmi Stavisky's testimony before a Knesset committee, accusing the bereaved educator of attacking the haredi community.

Legal adviser warns:

Torah Study Law could grant yeshiva students soldiers' privileges

Sagit Afik, legal adviser to Knesset, says Torah Study Law would grant yeshiva students privileges similar to those of soldiers - unless amendments are made.

Bereaved rabbi's proposed change to Torah study law

Rabbi Tamir Granot, father of fallen IDF soldier Amitai Granot, urges lawmakers to add just a few words to the proposed Basic Law of Torah Study.

Text of law to curb arrest of haredi draft evaders disclosed

Ahead of the second and third readings, the temporary order was published, suspending arrests and enforcement for a limited period, subject to study requirements, affidavits, and supervision of yeshivas.

Rabbi's proposed extension to Basic Law: Torah study

Rabbi Chaim Iram, the rabbi of the town of Elazar, has published an article for local residents responding to the recently approved Basic Law: Torah Study, using its language to advance a series of additional legislative proposals.

Prominent haredi rabbi condemns violent protests as 'false zeal'

Rabbi Daniel Wolfson criticized the extremist tactics behind recent anti-draft demonstrations, warning that violence and provocation undermine the Haredi cause and only deepen public anger and division.

The new demand infuriating haredi yeshivas

Tax Authority demanding yeshivas submit statements and documents on students' enlistment status as condition for donors to receive tax credits.

MK Succot fumes: 'I lost my best friends'

Yesh Atid's MK Elazar Stern accuses Religious Zionist MK Tzvi Succot of not caring for soldiers' lives, Succot fires back.

Outside AG's office

Hundreds of hassidim set up protest study hall

Viznitz hassidim gathered outside the Attorney General's office to protest the arrests of haredi draft dodgers.

Goldknopf slams Cabinet Secretary over haredi draft remarks

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs defended a proposed draft order but drew sharp criticism from UTJ after accusing haredi parties of ignoring absentee yeshiva students.

Shas distances itself from rabbi who criticized Chief of Staff

Shas has joined the wave of condemnations over the criticism from a haredi rabbi against Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.

Legal review:

Knesset can not suspend enforcement against draft dodgers

A Knesset legal review warned that a bill halting enforcement against haredi draft evaders could harm equality and military service.

Haredi anti-draft protest

'The Chief of Staff is cursed, soldiers are dying'

Severe rhetoric directed at IDF Chief of Staff and the military during a Bnei Brak protest against the draft led by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. Defense Minister Israel Katz calls it a "grave incitement."

Miki Zohar lashes out at Israeli media

Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar lams media outlets, urges agreement with haredim to resolve Draft Law crisis.

Goldknopf's statements that infuriated Knesset members

UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf sparked outrage by claiming the 'draft dodgers' are in Tel Aviv while defending Torah study in Israel.

Draft Law Crisis: Rabbi Yosef to lead massive rally in Bnei Brak

Following the continued arrests of haredi draft evaders and incidents of violence on the roads, the Sephardic Torah world is preparing for a protest rally on Saturday night.

Haredi rabbi's inciting claim: 'They are children of Amalek'

Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, a leading haredi rabbi, pens sharply-worded letters condemning arrests of haredi draft evaders and urging increased Torah study instead of violence as response to 'decree' of enlistment.

Traffic and confrontations amid Haredi protest convoy

Convoys departed from 19 haredi population centers under police coordination, with reports of heavy traffic and violent incidents, despite organizers' urging orderly and lawful protest.

Who should be learning instead of serving?

Torah study does not justify broad exemption from military service, except possibly for a small number of elite scholars.

Protest convoys reveal schism in haredi community

As hundreds of vehicles prepare for a nationwide protest, cooperation between major Hasidic groups and the Jerusalemite Faction has exposed the fault lines against Shas and Degel HaTorah.

No arrests of deserters on election day

The chairman of the Central Elections Committee said, following discussions with the Attorney General and the police commissioner, that on Election Day there will be no enforcement operations against deserters.

Haredi deserter sparks waves of protest at release party

After six days in military detention, Yechiel Kotiner was released last night. He had caused significant controversy when he was arrested at a draft office.

46 haredi draft dodgers were held in custody on Shabbat

Haredi journalists report an increase in the number of arrests following tougher enforcement against those who failed to report to draft offices.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef:

Trump spurned us due to arrest of yeshiva students

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef blames US-Iran memorandum of understanding on arrests of haredi yeshiva students.

Haredi protest returns to Beit Lid

Thousands of students and alumni from Be'er Hatalmud Yeshiva expected to arrive at detention facility to protest arrest of Sephardic yeshiva student.