Haredi news

Ultra-Orthodox party paralyzes Knesset votes to force through military draft exemptions

The most recent proposal advanced is a bill that would halt the arrests of haredi draft evaders, which is set to be debated on Tuesday in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Protesters supporting the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the Israeli military block a road in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, central Israel, in protest against the continued road blockades by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators following the arrest of draft evaders, June 26, 2026.
A haredi man looks on as traffic builds at Hemed Interchange on Highway 1 amid ultra-Orthadox anti-draft protests, June 24, 2026.

Following hours of haredi draft protests, Israeli highways reopen to traffic

A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) anti-draft protester holds a banner reading "Even those who do not learn in Yeshiva need to stay Jewish. It's forbidden to commit spiritual suicide in the IDF's crematoriums," during an anti-draft protest at the IDF's Jerusalem recruitment center, April 12, 2026.

Derech eretz lost - Why the proposed Basic Law betrays our sacred covenant - opinion

 Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police outside the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, central Israel, April 28, 2025

A-G to High Court: Gov’t has not adopted economic sanctions plan against haredi draft dodgers


Bus line in Ashdod doesn't allow women, drivers say it's line for 'only men'

Bus drivers on the Ashdod 80 line have barred women from riding the bus multiple times.

 Illustrative image of an Electra-Afikim bus.

Israel needs to allow more building permits to haredi municipalities - comptroller

Of Israel's population, an estimated 9.45 million people, around 1.2 million (or 13%) are considered ultra-orthodox.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish family takes part in the Tashlikh ritual, to symbolically cast away sins, ahead of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, in Ashdod, Israel, October 3, 2022.

Phenomenon of pork barrel politics is not new on the Israeli political scene

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: When Mapai and Labor Alignment were the country’s dominant political forces from 1948 to 1977, the kibbutz movement benefited enormously because of the political patrons it had.

 PROSPECTIVE COALITION partners UTJ MK Yitzhak Goldknopf and Shas MK Yinon Azoulay shake hands in the Knesset as MK Ahmed Tibi looks on.

Will coalition deals spark civic revolt?

MIDDLE ISRAEL: Netanyahu expects the silent majority to accept their money’s theft, their children’s re-education, their government’s deformation and their Zionism’s demise.

 AN ECSTATIC Benjamin Netanyahu greets Likud supporters celebrating the election victory last month.

Israel is facing a ticking bomb: Haredi unemployment

How will the unemployment rates within the Haredi community impact Israel's future?

 ULTRA-ORTHODOX Jewish men and children in Netanya.

Rightist party seeks to amend Law of Return, create state-funded diaspora schools

This right-wing party wants to amend Israel’s Law of Return and establish state-funded schools for diaspora Jews in Israel. Would this change Israel as we know it?

 Head of the Religious Zionist Party MK Bezalel Smotrich speaks next to Head of opposition Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting with the opposition parties at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on June 28, 2021.

Author of ultra-Orthodox 'Kids Speak' series accused of raping minors

Two women have come forward to testify against ultra-Orthodox author Chaim Walder, alleging that he would engage in sex with them regularly when they were age 12 and 15.

 Chaim Walder in his office with a copy of his bestselling book Kids Speak

Enlistment law for ultra-Orthodox introduced to Knesset

The new version of the bill establishes drastically lower enlistment targets than the previous text.

HAREDI PROTESTERS decry  the draft in Jerusalem.

Haredim who want out - are we giving them the help they need?

Hillel, an association that provides assistance to haredim who wish to leave the community, was disqualified from broadcasting in July. So they took the network to court.

 HAREDIM ON a Mea Shearim street corner during Sukkot.

Police clash with ultra-Orthodox while taking down 12 m. high sukkah

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox residents crowded an illegal sukkah built on 12-meter high scaffolding and clashed with police on the street in an attempt to prevent it from being taken down.

Mea Shearim, Jerusalem during coronavirus pandemic and Sukkot