Haredi draft

Netanyahu convenes emergency meeting as haredi parties threaten to block state budget vote

Both haredi parties have threatened to withhold support for the state budget unless agreements are reached on the draft law to avoid conscription.

 Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023.
Ultra orthodox jewish soldiers from the Hasmonean Brigade take part in a beret march after completing seven months of basic and advanced training, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old city on August 6, 2025.

IDF chief promotes Hashmonaim Brigade commander to chief adviser on ultra-Orthodox issues

Opposition head Yair Lapid arrives for a court hearing at the Supreme Court on a petition against the transfer of funds to ultra-Orthodox educational institutions, January 8, 2026

Israel's Opposition hits 61 seat majority for first time in months - poll

AN IDF reserve soldier reports for a military drill along the border with Lebanon and Syria.

IDF to trim reserve duty, could expand mandatory service as soldier shortage deepens


Ultra-Orthodox sages convene on haredi IDF draft bill, withhold official stance

The rabbis reportedly did not reach a decision on the matter; however, they allegedly decided internally to reject the sanctions imposed on draft evaders.

Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, head of the Gur hassidic dynasty,  seen after a meeting of the Council of Torah Sages regarding the haredi draft exemption bill in Jerusalem, January 7, 2026.

Millions transferred to haredi schools without Knesset approval, state admits to court

During the hearing, a state representative acknowledged that a significant portion of the funds had already been transferred prior to the Finance Committee discussion.

Opposition head Yair Lapid arrives for a court hearing at the Supreme Court on a petition against the transfer of funds to ultra-Orthodox educational institutions, January 8, 2026

Court extends detention of bus driver who rammed into ultra-Orthodox protesters

The court ordered the suspect held until January 15 to allow investigators to complete inquiries into the circumstances of the incident.

Signs from mass haredi protest against draft law in Jerusalem, January 6, 2026.

Bus driver rams into ultra-Orthodox protesters in Jerusalem, 14-year-old killed

Thousands of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters gathered in Israel's capital on Tuesday evening • Driver arrested after killing one, injuring three others • Shas: "Haredi blood is not cheap."

Security and rescue forces are seen at the scene where a teenager was killed and three others were injured after being hit by a bus in Jerusalem, January 6, 2026

From yellow badges to ‘extermination ovens’: Toxic rhetoric of haredi draft protests - editorial

The latest affront occurred on Sunday when UTJ chairperson Yitzhak Goldknopf compared enforcing yeshiva students’ conscription to “placing a yellow badge on them.”

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters gather in Mea She'arim, Jerusalem, to celebrate draft dodgers' release from miiltary prison, November 30, 2025; illustrative.

IDF sees largest single-day haredi draft to date with over 530 new recruits, still far from goal

As the IDF struggles to hit haredi enlistment goals, the military announced that it is making efforts to “expand the scope of recruitment from among the haredi public.”

Maj.-Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa, head of the IDF’s Human Resources Department, addresses ultra-Orthodox recruits as they enlist in the military.

Bennett pushes for billions of shekels to be redirected to reservists over draft dodgers

Bennett discussed his outline for the draft law, which would grant benefits to active reservists, including assistance with apartment purchases and benefits regarding daycare and state services.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hold a joint press conference at the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on June 20, 2022.

Shas threatens to vote down 2026 state budget if haredi draft law not passed

Without the support of Shas lawmakers, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government could lack the votes needed to pass the budget.

 Shas faction meeting in the Israeli parliament on December 8, 2025.

Ultra-Orthodox protests erupt across Israel on haredi IDF enlistment day

Disturbances occurred when protesters attempted to block vehicles by lying on the roadway in Kiryat Ono, Israel Police said.

Ultra-Orthodox protests erupt across Israel on haredi IDF enlistment day

Goldknopf likens sanctions on haredi draft dodgers to placing 'yellow badge' on them at the Knesset

“I beg you, exempt them from everything,” United Torah Judaism chairperson Goldknopf told the panel, before seeming to refer to the yellow star that Nazi’s placed on Jews during the Holocaust.

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters gather in Mea She'arim, Jerusalem, to celebrate draft dodgers' release from miiltary prison, November 30, 2025; illustrative.