Haredi Draft Law

Haredi MK: Why did God punish us with this psychotic PM?

Senior haredi lawmaker shouts at PM Bennett in Knesset plenum, calling him 'psychotic'.

Liberman: New haredi draft law is a 'vision of the end of days'

Finance Minister hails government's decision to back plan to encourage haredi yeshiva students to enter the workforce.

Haredim over 21 to be exempted from IDF draft

Government votes to lower draft exemption age for haredi men to 21 - before rising to 23. 'This is a historic moment,' says PM Bennett.

New haredi Draft Law to be voted on in coming weeks

Draft almost identical to that developed at behest of then-Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.

Draft Law granted its tenth extension

Government had vowed to bring Draft Law to very first cabinet meeting, but instead applied to Supreme Court for a six-month reprieve.

Amid warnings of new elections, coalition talks remain stalled

Despite threats by Netanyahu to dissolve Knesset and go to new elections, haredi lawmakers and Yisrael Beytenu fail to reach compromise.

Haredi faction offers compromise on yeshiva student draft law

United Torah Judaism looks to bridge gap with Yisrael Beytenu on haredi draft law, offers to accept Liberman's draft - with one change.

Why tens of thousands of haredim won't be voting in the election

Anti-draft Yerushalmi Faction calls on supporters not to participate in this week's election. How many seats will that cost haredi bloc?

Dozens arrested as haredi protesters shut down Jerusalem roads

Hundreds of anti-draft protesters block roads in the capital, following arrest of haredi draft dodger.

Supreme Court: Haredi draft deferments to remain in place

Yeshiva students breathe sigh of relief as Supreme Court accepts request to push off nullification of draft law until after elections.

'Haredi Draft Law' in jeopardy as Yesh Atid vows to vote against

Former Finance Minister Yair Lapid blasts draft bill he previously backed, as court-imposed deadline nears.

Likud struggles to maintain support for Haredi Draft Law

As court-imposed deadline for new draft law nears, gov't looks to opposition parties to win majority in Knesset.

Coalition mulls future of haredi draft law - without haredi MKs

As gov't prepares to resume talks over haredi draft law, Netanyahu gathers coalition leaders. But haredi MKs say they will boycott meeting.

As deadline nears, gov't asks court for draft law extension

With just one week left to pass draft law securing yeshiva student deferments, PM to call on Supreme Court to grant additional extension.

'Government can solve haredi draft dilemma'

Knesset Speaker dismisses suggestions government likely to split over haredi draft law, says there is no reason to hold early elections.

Yesh Atid: No reason to extend draft law deadline

Yesh Atid submits counter-appeal requesting Supreme Court not approve extending Draft Law deadline.

Haredi lawmaker issues ultimatum on draft law

Dep Minister Yaakov Litzman gives coalition 1 week to come up with fix for controversial draft law, vows to quit gov't if no solution found.

Is 'sharing the burden' of military service a realistic goal?

Conversation with Yohanan Plesner on the question of whether it is right to force recruitment on the haredi public.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PM meets with UTJ head in last-ditch effort to avoid elections

Following week abroad, Netanyahu meets with haredi lawmaker in effort to resolve coalition crisis, prevent government collapse.

Haredi leaders reject compromise on Draft Law

Coalition crisis deepens as UTJ leaders reject compromise offered to end crisis over draft law.

'If the coalition breaks apart, we'll push off elections'

If PM Netanyahu early elections, coalition and opposition parties will band together to delay elections until October, sources say.

'We will never surrender to haredi extortion'

Liberman rejects proposed Draft Law compromise aimed at ending coalition crisis, averting snap elections.

Haredi anti-draft radicals shut down Jerusalem streets

Anti-draft protesters launch first demonstration following death of Yerushalmi Faction leader.