Draft

Knesset debates contentious bill to freeze arrests of haredi draft evaders, amid legislative blitz

The vote on the legislation comes following severe legal warnings that the bill is unbalanced, along with outcry from bereaved families and IDF veterans.

Knesset panel advances bill to freeze arrests of haredi draft evaders, July 12, 2026.
MK Gilad Kariv reacrts during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 13, 2026.

Knesset debates freezing haredi draft evader arrests despite serious national security concerns

A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protester argues with a police officer outside the Jerusalem IDF recruitment center, April 12, 2026.

Almost half of Israelis support tougher sanctions, pressure to promote haredi conscription - poll

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at Knesset plenum to vote in favor of Basic: Law Torah Study bill, shaking hands with Degel Hatorah leader MK Moshe Gafni, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Israel's hysterical Torah study bill will backfire on the ultra-Orthodox - opinion


Edelstein to haredim: Now is not time to topple government

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chair Yuli Edelstein called on haredi politicians to exhibit “national responsibility.”

 Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein leads a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on May 8, 2025.

IDF Chief Zamir freezes extended service commitments for special forces units

Zamir held a discussion on the matter on Saturday night regarding expanding the implementation of extended service commitments for IDF combat soldiers in special forces units within the ground forces

 IDF soldiers operating throughout the Gaza Strip, July 9, 2025.

Deri and Lapid clash over IDF draft law, sanctions on ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students

Aryeh Deri responded to the Attorney-General's discussion on the High Court of Justice consideration over the draft law and the plan to toughen sanctions against yeshiva students who don't enlist.

A view of the Shas party offices in Jerusalem, June 4, 2025

IDF to summon over 50,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews in massive push for haredi draft

All 54,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews eligible for military service will be called on to arrive for actual service by July 2026.

 ‘THE HAREDI leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies.’

Israeli election not expected soon following war with Iran, senior minister tells 'Post'

A minister said that the rumors of an election were to signal haredi parties were not afraid of being voted out amid conflict on the draft bill.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to the courtroom at the Distrcit court in Tel Aviv, before the start of his testimony in the trial against him, June 3, 2025.

Vacation ruse, phantom trip, hostage decoy: How Israel misled Tehran before Iran strike – source

Israeli defense officials believe the element of surprise maximized the operation’s impact and may buy Israel critical time as Iran edges closer to nuclear breakout capability.

 The silhouette of a man, seen over the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran (illustrative)

Ultra-orthodox ultimatum pressures Netanyahu over military draft crisis - explainer

Seven weeks remain in the Knesset’s summer session. Amid the crisis, the opposition plans to place bills to dissolve the Knesset on the plenary agenda for next Wednesday.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf seen in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023

Haredi parties' Knesset boycott to continue for third straight week

This could change pending an assessment by haredi MKs later this week, according to one of the spokespersons.

 Haredi men are seen protesting the effort to draft ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the IDF.

How real is the haredi threat to topple the government? - analysis

Despite the growing calls, even within the coalition, for eligible haredi men to join the IDF, the reality on the ground has not changed very much.

 Anti-draft protests erupt in Jerusalem, May, 2025.

Lapid to TML: Haredim 'paid to dodge' as IDF scrambles for manpower - interview

In an interview with The Media Line, Yair Lapid, Matan Kahana, and Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer address Israel’s escalating draft crisis as tensions mount over haredi exemptions.

 Opposition head MK Yair Lapid speaks at a press conference in Jerusalem, April 20, 2025