Israeli draft

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

Protests cause heavy traffic on 29 major roads • Social media footage shows protesters and secular citizens in violent physical altercations • MKs Goldknopf, Malkieli attended protests

A haredi man looks on as traffic builds at Hemed Interchange on Highway 1 amid ultra-Orthadox anti-draft protests, June 24, 2026.
Deputy Minister MK Sharren Haskel attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026.

‘Backstabbing those who serve’: Deputy FM slams coalition laws aiding draft evaders - interview

FORMER DEFENSE minister Yoav Galant arrives to the Likud court for a discussion on the proposal to remove Galant from the Likud party.

Likud Court dismisses petitions to expel Gallant from party despite harsh criticisms against him

HAREDI PROTESTERS block Highway 1, June 1, 2026.

Ultra-Orthodox protesters block Jerusalem's Tunnel Checkpoint after draft dodger arrested


Haredi conscription debate heats up with protest and bill outline reveal

'It's not a conscription law, it’s a full-blown law for draft evasion. If this draft is advanced, not a single haredi will enlist,' said Lapid

 Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police during a protest against IDF conscription, near Bnei Brak, March 2, 2025

Equal burden on trial: What's at stake at the High Court's crucial haredi draft hearing - explainer

As war staggers on, the army faces a critical shortage, justices will weigh whether the State’s refusal to arrest draft evaders undermines both law and, principle of shared service.

Haredi protesters demonstrating against the IDF draft law blocking roads, September 18, 2025.

Haredi protesters block Jerusalem highway in protest against draft-dodger arrest orders

The police explained that rioters began to disrupt the order by blocking the traffic lanes near the String Bridge at the city's entrance.

Police declared the haredi protests illegal.

Tensions with ultra-Orthodox are second most divisive conflict in Israeli society, poll finds

The poll also shows how 83% of Israeli Jews support ensuring freedom of religion, namely, the freedom for both secular and religious citizens to live according to their own worldview. 

 An illustrative image of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Israeli Jews near a sign for an IDF recruiting office.

Ultra-Orthodox MK Goldknopf asks Netanyahu to finance Chabad's trip to New York

This comes after the Breslov hassidim received a framework that allows for NIS 10 million to be used in their Rosh Hashanah pilgrimages to Uman, Ukraine.

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

Highway 4 opens to traffic following Haredi protests over IDF draft arrest

The demonstrations come amid heightened tensions surrounding the state’s policies on military conscription and ongoing failures in the rehabilitation of wounded veterans.

Highway 4 near the Coca-Cola Junction was blocked Thursday afternoon as hundreds of Haredi protesters took to the streets.

Peleg Yerushalmi to hold protest, raffle for IDF draft dodgers

A flyer distributed ahead of the protest invites eligible participants to bring their draft notices and register at the event in order to enter the raffle.

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

Much ado about nothing: Coalition remains standing as core issues remain unsolved - analysis

The week culminated with an agreement between Shas, Degel Hatorah, Knesset legal advisers, and committees, and an ensuing failed attempt by the opposition to disperse the Knesset.

 A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish man holds a placard next to a police horse as he takes part in a protest against pressure to conscript into the military in Bnei Brak, Israel, June 5, 2025. The words in Hebrew read "We will not enlist in the enemy army."

Shas still trying to reach coalition agreement, rabbis' council head says

This comes after Rabbi Maya signed a letter on Monday opposing the conscription of any haredi individual, even those not studying in a yeshiva.

 Rabbi Moshe Maya speaks during a rally which marks one year since the death of Rabbi Shimon Hirari in Tel Aviv on February 28, 2016.