Keyword "Haredi draft" - List of latest news (175 results)

20/04 Katz rejects proposal to extend yeshiva students’ military service

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected a military proposal to extend Hesder yeshiva students' service by four months, opting to keep the current term of one year and five months.

10/04 Passover and the price of redemption: The burden of war must be shared by all Jews - opinion

Real redemption requires sacrifice: only when every Jew embraces this burden will we truly understand the slavery and freedom in the matzah and the blood and jubilation in the wine.

03/04 Deputy A-G: 'Government ignoring IDF draft needs amid manpower crisis'

Gil Limon told attendees at Reichman University that the government failed to pass a draft law amidst the IDF manpower crisis.

02/04 Thousands march in Jerusalem to protest haredi draft exemption

Thousands march in Jerusalem for equal military service burden, demanding government action for widespread recruitment. "We bear the burden, but we demand immediate change," protesters say.

02/04 Likud MK: Government should consider dropping haredi IDF exemption attempts

The former principal warned that failure to lessen the burden will lead to the IDF's reservist system collapse.

27/03 Ex-Mossad chief Pardo: Gov’t has opened 'gates of hell' on hostages with return to war

"The gates of hell might have opened on the Gazans, but for sure they have opened on the 59 hostages, and there is no savior."

24/03 A gov't of desecration: Goldknopf’s dance shows Israelis who is really to blame - opinion

How in the world can self-identifying Zionist Knesset members in the coalition participate in this injustice?

24/03 Knesset set for final 2025 budget voting overnight

The Knesset will debate the state budget overnight as haredi draft demands add tension; final votes are set for Tuesday after months of political maneuvering.

23/03 Netanyahu’s English saves his coalition? Rabbis drop draft ultimatum in private call

By Sunday evening, an understanding was reached: the ultra-Orthodox factions would not issue an ultimatum over the draft law at this time.

18/03 Sanctions against haredi draft dodgers must be enforced, attorney general warns

"According to the data presented by the military, in the absence of effective enforcement measures, the enlistment rate among this group is negligible,” Limon wrote

16/03 Taking from Israel and refusing to serve: Why haredim draft refusal is hard to swallow - editorial

Few things are more provocative for non-haredim than haredi rabbis and students gleefully rejecting the government and refusing to defend the state – all while taking its money.

14/03 Dancing on the brink: Haredi draft dodging video triggers national backlash

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Viral videos of haredi anti-draft chants have reignited Israel’s conscription debate, sparking public outrage and political backlash.

14/03 The IDF needs soldiers but Israel is paying yeshivas to dodge the draft - opinion

This might have been possible to tolerate before October 7 but definitely not now, at a time when the IDF is missing over 10,000 soldiers to fulfill the missions it already has.

14/03 Netanyahu's Likud gains support, but Naftali Bennett still leads in new poll

Latest polling shows Likud’s rise, Bennett’s strong support, and deep divisions on war policy and the haredi draft law.

10/03 IDF plans to summon 14,000 haredim, expects shortfall in 2025 draft goals

The IDF said it expects to miss its 2025 goal of 4,800 recruits by 1,800.

06/03 Less than 2% of haredim summoned since July have begun IDF service

According to the data, the IDF has sent out 2,231 “Tzav 12” orders, which are a final summons to people who did not adhere to the initial order, before an arrest warrant is issued.

05/03 Haredi faction holds emergency talks as Israel’s 2025 budget deadline looms

Haredi faction Degel Hatorah's vote on the 2025 budget remains uncertain amid coalition strife.

05/03 The incoming chief of staff has many challenges he'll need to confront - opinion

The relationship between the IDF and society

01/03 This is the way ultra-Orthodox men can be recruited into the IDF - opinion

Perhaps a decade from now, after the ultra-Orthodox population has become accustomed to core studies and state service, a universal military draft can be imposed.

25/02 Investigate attempts by haredim to bypass IDF draft-dodger sanctions, NGO demands

Some reports indicated that politicians were encouraging yeshiva students to open businesses on paper in order to continue being eligible for subsidized state care.

24/02 Porush, Smotrich spar over haredi draft law

"We will not agree to any further delay in passing the budget. The budget will not be held hostage by the legislation of the [haredi] conscription law,” Smotrich said.

23/02 UTJ leaders refuse Netanyahu request to delay haredi draft bill

While preparation of the haredi draft bill sped up in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in recent weeks, it is still unlikely to pass into law by March 3.

20/02 Rabbi Dov Landau’s extremism exposes Israel’s growing haredi dilemma - opinion

For those hoping that shared national challenges might bridge the secular-religious divide, Rabbi Landau’s words are deeply discouraging.

19/02 Rivlin blasts Haredi draft refusal at the Conference of Presidents

“We’re not fighting for freedom. We’re fighting against terror," Rivlin said.

09/02 Will Israel's Right sacrifice haredi IDF draft to seize Trump-fueled opportunity? - analysis

Abandoning it risks alienating their base, yet standing firm could bring down the government best positioned to achieve their ideological vision under Trump’s presidency.

07/02 For first time, haredi man arrested at airport trying to flee IDF conscription

This marks the first arrest of an ultra-Orthodox deserter since the exemption status of Haredim was revoked in July 2024, and 3000 draft orders were sent out.

03/02 Thousands of ultra-Orthodox face arrest for draft evasion in IDF crackdown

Last month, the military announced that legal action was underway against draft candidates from the haredi community who failed to report for enlistment.

02/02 Haredi draft bill preparation speeding up in Knesset committee

The committee’s schedule shows that the coalition is serious about passing the bill into law in the coming months.

02/02 Smotrich: Haredim must join IDF, but must be ‘respected for who they are’ - interview

Smotrich said that the fact that the haredim did not serve in the IDF was “painful,” however he cannot act on those feelings as a public servant.

01/02 Confronting unprecedented change in the Haredi world - opinion

The question isn’t whether change will come – it’s already happening at the margins – but rather how deep it will penetrate into the core of haredi society.

31/01 Maariv poll: Bennett bloc dominates as Netanyahu’s coalition loses ground

According to the polling, in a scenario where a party led by Bennett runs in the elections, the Bennet-led opposition bloc would secure a majority of 66 seats.

29/01 Smotrich to haredim – don’t condition budget on IDF draft bill

Smotrich argued that the haredi parties should support the budget regardless – and then could topple the government over the draft, if they wished.

29/01 Lapid, Shas ultra-Orthodox leader, discuss future political cooperation

“Our parents in heaven, listening to this conversation, must be proud," Lapid said in response to Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.

27/01 Liberman accuses Katz of IDF candidate bias over haredi draft law

Katz denies Liberman’s claims of bias in IDF interviews as haredi draft law controversy heats up in the Knesset.

27/01 Gov’t secretary presents most detailed haredi IDF draft proposal yet

Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs intends to begin by drafting 4,800 haredim in the 2024 draft year (between July 2024 – June 2025).

26/01 Ultra-Orthodox on the front lines: The pros and cons - opinion

"Dina d’malchuta dina (“the law of the land is the law”) requires Jews to obey the statutes of a legally constituted government, such as Israeli law mandating conscription into the IDF."

26/01 Haredi organizations press on efforts to prevent IDF recruitment - report

One of the associated hotlines actively works to intervene in cases of arrested draft dodgers.

24/01 Katz’s draft plan fails the IDF and perpetuates haredi draft dodging - opinion

Alas, these fine initiatives only nibble at the edges of the military, societal, and ideological need, which is a significant draft to the fighting army of 18 to 26-year-old haredi men.

22/01 A new chapter for hassidim and the IDF - opinion

As we support these pioneering souls, we must also pave the way for more integration, more understanding, and more shared responsibility. The future of our nation depends on it.

22/01 AG – Defense Minister’s ‘principles’ for haredi IDF draft do not meet constitutional standards

Katz said that the bill includes financial sanctions against any yeshiva that does not meet its quota and against men who are issued draft orders but do not show up.

22/01 What Ben-Gvir should do: Support the hostage issue, not haredi draft evasion - opinion

Ben-Gvir should have quit long ago, protesting the greater affront to Israeli nationalism: ultra-Orthodox draft dodging.

15/01 The government needs to expand haredi recruitment into IDF - editorial

The government has to encourage a fast and vast shift within haredi society, showing that military service and keeping the faith are not contradictions.

14/01 We can't carry this stretcher alone": Protesters march to Knesset over haredi draft

The march took place as the Knesset discussed a haredi IDF draft law, which is the latest in a series of legislative steps surrounding the issue of whether or not ultra-Orthodox Israelis must draft.

14/01 Katz to FADC: My bill will bring tens of thousands of haredim into IDF

Katz said that over seven years, his bill would succeed at integrating tens of thousands of haredim into the military. Opposition MKs accused him of ignoring the IDF's needs.

12/01 Be A Mensch Foundation: Advancing dialogue between secular, haredi Israelis

The Be A Mensch (BAM) Foundation has been working for the past 11 years to promote tolerance among Jews with extremely different values and lifestyles. 

08/01 Secular and haredi Israelis must swim in the same waters - opinion

If we truly want a whole and united Israel, we’ll need everyone, haredi and secular alike, swimming together in the same waters. Yes, it’s risky. Yes, it’s scary. But it’s also the only way forward.

07/01 338 Haredim join IDF's special new tracks, compared to 10,000 summoned

Of the 338 new haredi draftees, 211 are in combat units, while 127 are in units to support combat units.

07/01 High Court to hear petition demanding to send immediate draft orders to all eligible haredim

The petitioners, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and Israel's Defensive Shield Forum, have argued that the IDF has not fulfilled its legal duty to send out draft orders.

06/01 Nagel report fails to highlight how to fix IDF post-Oct. 7 failure - analysis

Nagel's report will help on a variety of tactical issues and even some strategic issues, but the missing pieces could come back to haunt the country someday if they are not addressed soon.

06/01 Gantz, Lapid push back against haredi draft exemption bill in the Knesset

Opposition MKs called the proposed haredi draft exemption bill harmful to IDF soldiers and warned of an intense parliamentary and public struggle to block its swift passage.

05/01 First recruits enlist in new IDF haredi combat brigade

The brigade aims to enable haredi soldiers to serve in combat roles while fully preserving their religious lifestyle and identity.

03/01 Gallant potentially considering reversing decision to resign from Knesset - report

Gallant's resignation is set to take effect on Sunday at 10:00 a.m., after the weekend, giving him two days to reconsider and potentially retract his decision.

03/01 Gallant's principled stand on Haredi draft leaves political legacy - editorial

Yoav Gallant resigns from the Knesset over opposition to the haredi draft law as Likud advances legislation on military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Israelis.

02/01 November 2024 survey: 81% of non-haredi respondents support change in draft policy

A key finding of the survey was how different sectors of the Israeli public value the haredi contribution to the war effort.

31/12 Daunting political challenges await coalition in 2025 - analysis

Coalition to face challenges including budget and haredi IDF draft laws in upcoming year.

30/12 ‘No progress’ on haredi draft bill leads to new threat by Agudat Yisrael

Defense Minister Katz last week presented a list of principles for new legislation, according to which the IDF will gradually increase haredi draft numbers.

29/12 Two years later: 64% of Israeli public rate gov'ts performance as 'not good' - poll

While this figure is concerning, it marks an improvement from a September poll in which 75% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction.

28/12 IDF needs to act on recruiting haredim - opinion

Only a conscription law that includes minimal exemptions and with teeth will enable the continued defense and prosperity of the state.

27/12 'We will preserve haredi life': IDF deputy chief visits new ultra-Orthodox brigade base

He told the brigade's ultra-Orthodox fighters "we will preserve the Haredi lifestyle of the soldiers here - there is no contradiction between devout Judaism and combat, courage, and battle."

23/12 Rabbi David Leybel: The haredi rabbi pushing for IDF, workplace integration

Rabbi David Leybel, a graduate of the most prestigious Lithuanian haredi institutions, is leading a quickly growing movement that is revolutionizing ultra-Orthodox society.

20/12 PM term limits, no draft exemptions: Liberman reveals five principles for next coalition

In his post, Liberman wrote that the "current coalition is dragging Israel into an endless internal conflict, on issues such as the tax evasion law, the judicial system, the media, and the budget."

20/12 My Word: Wide awake in a war

Is IDF service suitable for every single young haredi man? No. But there can no longer be an excuse for mass exemptions.

19/12 IDF reservists intend to vote for Bennett, oppose haredi draft exemption - poll

Nearly half of the reservists surveyed stated that such a haredi draft exemption law would diminish their motivation to continue serving in the reserves.

19/12 Failure to draft ultra-Orthodox cost economy NIS 8.5 billion - study

These estimates were based on publicly available information and BDO estimates, and the calculation was based on conservative assumptions.

19/12 Over three-quarters of IDF reservists say Israel can no longer exempt ultra-Orthodox from service

The survey polled 800 reservists who fought in the Israel-Hamas War.

17/12 'Far from simple or clear-cut': What do Israelis think about the haredi draft bill?

The Magazine spoke to Israeli men and women who have served in the army and/or have children in uniform. Here’s what they had to say about the haredi draft debacle.

17/12 On the haredi draft: Israelis are no longer tolerating the current situation - opinion

"We need a draft so that haredim don’t drift off and evolve into a separate people not just distinct from, but separated from, the rest of Jewry. We need each other too much for that to happen."

16/12 Rabbi Asher Deutsch, leader of Peleg Yerushalmi, dies at 79

He previously served as the head of the Lithuanian 'Ponevezh Yeshiva' for 46 years, and has been influential in draft dodging among yeshiva students.

16/12 Edelstein: No back room deals on haredi draft bill

“There are all kinds of talk about agreements behind the committee’s back. There is no such thing as behind the back of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,” Edelstein said.

05/12 MKs threatened bill to disperse Knesset over IDF exemption, major haredi paper reaveals

There is a growing sense of urgency, but the "feeling" in the party is that at the moment there is no concrete proposal on the table to disperse the Knesset.

05/12 'Throw them in the toilet': Yitzhak Yosef urges students to 'tear up' draft orders

"What do we have without our Torah? Why did we come here—to become secular? If a draft notice arrives, tear it up. Do you have a toilet at home? Flush it down,” Yosef said.

04/12 Haredi soldiers complete air force technicians course, ensuring IAF's operational readiness

The course certified 26 soldiers as technicians, who will serve at the hangar and ensure operational support for IAF fighter jets and their weapons systems.

04/12 On conscription and separation: the issues with the Haredi draft - opinion

Those who do not enlist should be designated as deserters, with all the economic sanctions that it entails.

21/11 Editor's Notes: Diaspora donors to haredi yeshivas: You can demand change

If you care about Israel’s future—and I know you do—then it’s time to act. Meet with the rabbis. Challenge them. Urge them to find solutions.  

19/11 Haredi military service: Change from the bottom up as grassroots support grows - analysis

When it comes to ultra-Orthodox (haredi) military service, the change within the haredi community will come from the bottom up.

18/11 Gaza war general takes reins of IDF HR Command as haredi, reservist crisis looms

IDF names Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as new Human Resources chief, tasked with managing haredi draft expansion and reservist challenges amid war casualties.

18/11 High Court suggests compromise extending haredi daycare for three months

The compromise would enable subsidies to continue for three months after the start of the school year, expecting them to expire at the end of November.

17/11 1,000 haredi IDF draft orders sent out, 6,000 more over 2 months

Katz doesn't block draft orders despite his mission to compromise with the ultra-Orthodox.

17/11 Haredi leaders urge draft defiance on front page of 'Yated Ne'eman' newspaper

Rabbi Dov Landau proclaimed: “We know full well that no yeshiva student or kollel scholar will join the army—under any circumstances and in any form whatsoever.”

14/11 Dan IIlouz talks haredi draft, UNRWA, and the war in Gaza - interview

MK Dan Illouz challenges his party on haredi IDF draft policy and pushes for international policy shifts against UNRWA and Hamas-backed influences.

14/11 IDF issues a thousand draft notices for haredi recruits, 6,000 more planned

Due to the low number of haredim who were drafted, the IDF more than doubled the number of notices being sent out in this round of draft attempts.

13/11 Drafting to the IDF is the Jewish thing to do - opinion

It is a mitzvah to return to Zion, build up its cities, cultivate and plant its fields, and form a Jewish military guard for the security of those returning.

12/11 Defense Minister Israel Katz not blocking IDF issuing 7,000 draft orders to haredim

Speculation spiked after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replaced Gallant with Katz that the attempts to draft Haredim would be halted, given Netanyahu and the haredi coalition parties' opposition.

11/11 Netanyahu: Iran and the conscription law are twin threats that must be resolved

Senior members of the Haredi parties estimated that the conscription law would progress after Gallant's dismissal and his replacement with Katz.

11/11 'The blood of our combat soldiers is crying out': Religious-Zionist women support haredi draft

Protesters urged equal military service for unity and Israel’s defense, rejecting exemptions.

11/11 80% of reservists and their families say haredi draft exemption would hurt national motivation

Israeli reservists report a heavy service burden, with many linking it to haredi draft exemptions.

08/11 Gallant is the man for the job! Netanyahu, we deserve better - editorial

A true leader would find a way to bridge those gaps, would see the fractures in the society they are charged with leading and protecting, and tend to them - What we have seen is the opposite.

07/11 Be careful what you wish for: The haredi draft is a societal challenge the IDF can solve - opinion

Let's honor every IDF soldier, regardless of community or gender, for the holy work they continue to do every day on behalf of Israel, the Jewish people, and the entire free world.

04/11 Gov't secretary making illegal attempts to fund haredi draft exemption, AG charges

The government has been trying to circumvent the legal barrier to continue subsidizing daycare for haredi yeshiva students.

03/11 Solving the issue of the ultra-Orthodox enlistment is a national imperative - opinion

The time has come to do away with the status quo, and Netanyahu needs to understand this if he wants to remain in power.

03/11 Haredi society needs to start pulling its weight as Israel's needs grow - opinion

The national religious public once questioned who was closer—the secular kibbutznik from Mishmar HaEmek or the haredi from Kiryat Sefer. In Israel’s ongoing war, the answer is clear.

01/11 Giving credit where its due: The bravery to break party lines and stand alone - editorial

MK Dan Ilouz, a Likud backbencher, was willing to break party ranks when he called to end the haredi draft exemption.

31/10 Likud's Dan Illouz digs in on haredi draft, defying Netanyahu

PM Netanyahu reportedly criticized Illouz for voicing his opposition to the gov's new initiative to incentivize haredim not to enlist in the IDF.

31/10 The Religious Zionist Party leadership: Neither religious, nor Zionist - opinion

There has been a disconnect between the reality of the religious Zionist community and their key politicians who protect the haredim from any sanctions over avoiding conscription.

29/10 Is the haredi draft crisis solvable, and what role does the Religious Zionist Party have in it?

According to a source in the coalition, the issue of haredi IDF service was unsolvable, and it could eventually topple the government.

29/10 Perpetuating draft evasion through legislative tricks - comment

Amid IDF sacrifices, haredi leaders quietly pursue a workaround for military exemptions.

29/10 Smotrich appeals for Haredi IDF participation in emotional Knesset address - editorial

Finance Minister Smotrich emotionally calls for shared IDF responsibility among the haredi community, emphasizing unity for Israel’s defense and survival.

25/10 Dichter, Kisch, Regev, Chikli: How can you be silent with this disgrace? - opinion

Ministers have the power to stop this travesty over the draft bill by telling Netanyahu they will not support the bill. But they choose not to act, causing Israel irreparable harm.

22/10 Haredi IDF exemption bill will cause 'fault line' in Israeli society, Eisenkot says

Such a bill "undermines" Israel's national security by harming necessary solidarity and national consensus, Eisenkot added.

18/10 The unsustainable draft-dodging burden on the IDF - opinion

What does the push for a draft-dodger law say to those serving currently in the IDF?

09/10 Did the most senior haredi rabbi just signal support for a haredi draft? - analysis

Senior Haredi figures are starting to rethink long-held positions, allowing change to happen quietly and organically.

09/10 'No young man will go to the army': Senior rabbi dissuades yeshiva students from IDF service

This follows rulings made by a number of top rabbis from different ultra-Orthodox groups in July that IDF service was prohibited.

01/10 Economy is the next front of Israel's existential war, and it's losing - analysis

Israel's adherence to ineffective systems without regulation could lead to a dangerous cycle.

22/09 Gov’t again defies A-G, aims to continue subsidies for draft-age haredim

Daycare subsidies are economic incentive for ultra-Orthodox men to continue yeshiva despite legal requirement to enlist.

10/09 Goldknopf – UTJ will not support 2025 budget without haredi IDF draft bill

The legal blanket haredi exemption from IDF service ended in July 2023 after being ruled unequal and therefore unconstitutional.

23/08 Israel needs to stop recycling its political leaders - opinion

Israel needs new leadership – recycling the leaders who have already tried and failed is not the solution.

19/08 IDF to redraft reservist soldiers who previously received exemptions

The statement noted that after the necessary preparations were completed, the IDF began reaching out to relevant candidates who served in crucial units.

18/08 Smotrich orders haredi daycare subsidies to continue, defying attorney general

Smotrich's decision opens another front in the struggle between the government and the attorney general's office.

15/08 Why was it a tumultuous week for Israel's coalition? - analysis

Noisy public infighting usually develops into an attempt by parties to leverage their position to score political victories.

14/08 WATCH: haredim protest draft at northern recruitment base, 12 arrested

The IDF reported that Border Police successfully kept the protesters away from the base's fences, though the police had to disperse a large number of demonstrators using tear gas.

11/08 Historic shift: Attorney-General uses economic pressure to enforce haredi draft - analysis

Attorney-General Baharav-Miara’s office sent a letter to cut childcare subsidies worth between NIS 1,000-1,700 per child to yeshiva students who are ignoring call-up notices.

11/08 Israel to stop subsidizing haredi children's daycare amid IDF draft efforts

The attorney-general's ruling will likely lead to a financial blow to thousands of haredi families just weeks before a new school year begins.

08/08 Gov't secretary: Attorney-General overstepping authority in haredi draft involvement

The letter is another step in a long-simmering feud between Fuchs and the AG's office, over the boundaries of the government's authority on a number of issues, including the haredi draft.

07/08 'If the army were without women, we might have been able to discuss it,' senior haredi rabbi says

"Even if there were a haredi brigade, today it would be one way, and tomorrow the another," the rabbi added.

06/08 IDF haredi draft call-up falters as protests and legal challenges disrupt recruitment efforts

Only a few of the 1,000 haredim summoned for IDF recruitment showed up, amid intense protests and legal challenges.

05/08 WATCH: 'Murders, Hitlers, Nazis': Haredi rioters clash with police at IDF recruitment office

At the end of the first recruitment day for haredim, only 8% of recruits showed up to serve at the recruitment offices.

25/07 American Jews threatening to cut off Israeli haredim who don't draft is a mistake - opinion

American Jews in particular are allergic to injustice, and to them, haredim should not sleep soundly under the blanket of IDF without lifting a finger themselves.

24/07 Haredim unwilling to draft are the new Zealots in Israel - opinion

Sadly, the response from the haredi rabbis is not the maturity and taking of responsibility. Rather, to consider any viewpoint other than their own, which h

22/07 Sharing the burden: How the ultra-Orthodox can serve in the IDF

If we are each responsible for each other’s well-being, then they must not shirk their duty to defend the country that supports them.

22/07 Otzma Yehudit and haredi parties negotiating to pass series of controversial measures

Wheeling and dealing abound as Knesset wraps up summer session.

21/07 IDF sends draft notices for haredim

Leaders of the rapidly growing haredi community say that forcing seminary students to serve alongside secular Israelis including women risks destroying their identity as religious Jews.

21/07 Bridging the divide: Integrating Ultra-orthodox men into the IDF - opinion

The push to draft ultra-Orthodox men into the IDF sparks controversy. Can a new hesder program and tailored solutions bridge societal divides and ensure fair participation for all?

20/07 Phony recruitment: haredi draft sham exposed

The IDF's current haredi recruitment process contradicts the Supreme Court ruling and the principle of equality by targeting only those who are working or married.

18/07 Gallant approves draft orders for 1,000 haredim on Sunday

The current orders are being sent out as part of the July draft, and haredi draft plans for the next two rounds will be set "according to haredi turnout" in the current draft.

17/07 IDF unsure how many haredi draft orders it intends to send on Sunday

The IDF's draft plans for haredi citizens remain uncertain. Despite political tensions and a lack of clear criteria, the IDF targets 3,000 recruits annually.

16/07 IDF to begin drafting haredim on Sunday

Report on 'breakthrough' in back room haredi draft talks denied by govt official

15/07 Bill to lengthen mandatory military service splits opposition

Israel's opposition debates extending IDF service amid financial concerns and differing views on haredi draft inclusion, revealing divisions on national security priorities.

14/07 Gov't greenlights bill to extend IDF mandatory service to three years

The bill was delayed over legal and social concerns that it unequally increased the burden of military service on some groups while leaving others exempt.

12/07 Does Jewish law require yeshiva students to be drafted at age 18?

There is no halachic or moral justification for haredi draft evasion. “Shall your brothers go to war, while you sit here!?”

11/07 'Do not show up at recruitment offices': Haredi rabbi responds to Gallant's draft goal

As of Wednesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said draft notices would be delivered in coming weeks to ultra-Orthodox Jews who were previously exempted from serving in the IDF. 

10/07 'Black kippah doesn’t exempt one from IDF service': says senior Shas haredi minister

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel advocates for equal IDF conscription, challenging the Shas party's stance.

08/07 Haredi draft drama: IDF chief Baram leaks military can absorb 3,000 additional haredi recruits

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping to postpone the issue to September, concerned that the Haredim could bring the government down over their funds being frozen.

08/07 Judaism encourages haredim to draft into IDF - opinion

Evasion from military service, even to learn Torah, has no precedent in our history or our writings and codified laws. 

07/07 Ministers attack Gallant at security briefing

A number of ministers criticized Gallant during the briefing for his insistence to pass a haredi draft bill with "broad agreement."

07/07 Haredi draft law passed, but is still far from perfect - opinion

The IDF needs to understand the true importance of this moment and make the right accommodations for new haredi conscripts to ease this bumpy process.

01/07 Knesset Defense Committee begins classified meeting on haredi draft bill

Attendees at the meeting included Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF representatives, alongside the committee members.

30/06 Soldier or scholar: Who is the better Jew? - opinion

History is not static; times change, conditions change, and we have to adapt to those changes.

30/06 Haredi draft ideology debunked by looking at Torah laws - opinion

The haredi world is overwhelmingly cut-off from the war reality that “mainstream” Israel is living, purposefully and devastatingly so.

28/06 Where is Israel’s political landscape headed at this point in the war?

Political Affairs: Is a ‘clean sweep’ incoming, or is it just ‘old wine in new bottles’?

28/06 My Word: Israel faces social cohesion along with political divides

Haredi draft, hostage deal, and Hamas video. Israel's social cohesion was tested over the week as fear and lack of unity surges in Israel. "Together we will prevail,” is more than a slogan now.

27/06 Volunteer EMT: Is this the solution for the haredi draft law?

New initiative suggests solving the haredi draft crisis by acknowledging EMT volunteering as a national service 

27/06 Knesset defense committee to resume haredi draft bill debate with classified meeting

Many haredi publications have argued that the ruling has effectively "torn apart" haredim from the rest of Israeli society.

26/06 'Internal conflicts explode': Arab world celebrates Supreme Court’s haredi draft decision

"This will escalate tensions between the leadership of the military and the judges on one hand, and the leadership of the right-wing government on the other," said one commenter.

26/06 Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox policies backfired, creating turmoil in Israel - opinion

If Netanyahu could maneuver each of these battles separately and lead them to a solution, in the current situation, the three battles—legal, security, and ultra-Orthodox—feed into each other.

26/06 Deep changes must take place in Israeli society for it to emerge united - editorial

In terms of the societal splits on which the court was asked to deliberate, it is a superficial Band-Aid, one that covers a deeper wound than can be fixed by the court alone.

26/06 How Ben Gurion's pragmatic decision led to haredim draft exemption - analysis

David Ben-Gurion's 1948 decision not to draft yeshiva students shaped Israel's policy, sparking decades of debate on military exemptions amid societal and political transformations.

25/06 Drafting haredim to the army is 'an offense to religion,' says former Shas MK

Moshe Maya, a former MK in the Shas Party, responded to the High Court's ruling requiring the draft of ultra-Orthodox men, saying that the law will be met with resistance.

25/06 Haredi draft ruling signals new era for Israeli society - Analysis

While this court ruling will not lead to tens of thousands of yeshiva students entering the army next week, next month, or even next year, it does signal a dramatic change since October 7.

25/06 What comes next in haredi IDF service? - analysis

The ruling may strengthen the coalition. The ruling will likely draw the haredim back to the negotiating table after negotiations between the haredi parties

25/06 'A moral duty': Israeli lawmakers hail ruling to draft haredim into IDF

Moshe Gafni: 'There is not a single judge there who understands the value of Torah study and their contribution to the Jewish people throughout the generations.'

24/06 'No more populist games': Israel's Knesset debates IDF haredi draft law

"The conscription law discussions are nothing less than historic," said MK Yuli Edelstein.

23/06 Judicial reform protesters partly to blame for Hamas massacre, Netanyahu hints

In his first Hebrew interview since the start of the war with Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discusses judicial reform protests, current demonstrations, the haredi draft and more.

23/06 Is the NIS 70 m plan for haredi employment going to work without a draft law?

Israel's new NIS 70M plan aims to boost haredi employment and productivity through education incentives, but IDF exemptions pose challenges.

23/06 'There are those better than Zionists': Rabbis seek donations for yeshivas post-High Court ruling

Following the High Court's decision, the rabbis, many affiliated with the current governing coalition, seek to raise $116 million to fund yeshiva students who do not enlist in the IDF.

23/06 Knesset faces controversy over IDF reservist age extension amid haredi draft debate

Israel's Knesset accelerates a bill to extend IDF reservist age limits amid controversy and legal challenges over Haredi conscription exemptions and fairness concerns.

23/06 It's time to make the IDF haredi-friendly - opinion

Israel should create a military environment in which it is possible to study and maintain a haredi identity.

21/06 Editor's Notes: Israelis must rise above views in black and white

The solution to the haredi draft into the IDF is for both groups to understand and accommodate for each other, rather than dig in to their lines in the sand.

21/06 Mother’s plea before son’s death highlights haredi draft law impact

"Every soldier has circles: parents and siblings, a partner and children. All these circles are deeply affected when a soldier is killed," shared Dery, days before her son was killed in Gaza.

19/06 Haredi journalist's monologue: Why ultra-Orthodox parties will stay in opposition

The debate over the "Rabbis' Law" intensified after the expiration of the previous conscription exemption law in June 2023, leaving the government scrambling to devise a new solution

19/06 The rabbi's bill was a litmus test - analysis

Despite the sparks that flew on Wednesday, the rabbi bill itself is unlikely to destabilize the government in coming days.

17/06 The haredi-IDF train wreck continues to inch along - analysis

Whether the government will fall, manage to stay aloft while continuing to drag out the issue, or whether a compromise will miraculously be reached, remains up in the air.

17/06 'Without Torah, who would protect us?': Goldknopf addresses haredi draft

"If it wasn't for the Torah, I don't know where we would be today, who would protect us,” Goldknopf said. 

17/06 Knesset set to begin haredi draft bill debates on Tuesday

The measure passed last week with all of the coalition voting in favor, save for Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who voted against it.

17/06 The haredi draft crisis that will not disappear: A look at Israel's 'Amendment No. 26'

The main haredi argument against enlisting their youth to military service is that the study of the Torah and prayers to God are more important to Israel’s security than the IDF.

16/06 A government that allows for the haredi draft evasion must go - opinion

The ongoing draft dodging by the ultra-Orthodox harms not only the country’s economy and prosperity but its very security.

16/06 Government extends age cut off for IDF reserve duty amid heavy criticism

The government gave three-month extension of measure to raise the cutoff age for reserve duty from 40 to 41 for regular soldiers and 45 to 46 for officers

16/06 Haredi conscription, not Benny Gantz, may topple government

Although Gantz's quitting the government failed to bring about its collapse, the festering issue of haredi exemptions from military conscription may ultimately do the trick.

14/06 Draft evasion is not God’s will, and shouldn't be treated as such - opinion

Monday’s draft-evasion vote was worthy of Sodom, which outlawed justice and legalized crime.

10/06 Opposition calls to depose coalition as Gallant set to oppose draft law

MKs such as Yesh Atid's Vladimir Beliak oppose, saying that they had to because the ruling coalition had "destroyed the country."

02/06 What will final impact be of High Court hearing on haredim in the IDF? - analysis

If the court was being truly aggressive, it would have frozen all funds in April, or in mid-2023, when the prior law expired, or several years earlier, when other prior laws expired.

02/06 Israeli doctors threaten to leave country if haredi draft exemption is approved

The inequality caused by haredim not serving in the IDF and proposed lengthening of reservist service is causing doctors to begin leaving Israel.

28/05 Leading Israeli economists: Government policy regarding haredim is an existential threat to Israel

Among those signed on the letter are numerous prominent Israeli economists, including 73 professors, some from Israel's leading academic institutions.

28/05 Numbers aside, haredi conscription is about the fabric of Israeli society - editorial

The haredi community must find a way to contribute more directly to the defense of the nation, whether through military service or other forms of national service.

24/03 Gallant to oppose Netanyahu's bill to exempt ultra-Orthodox from IDF service

Netanyahu has been rumored to be ready to extend the Haredi exemption from IDF and national service in practice while trying to make some symbolic gesture toward greater service.

22/10 Did Hamas inadvertently heal the haredi-secular divide? - opinion

Haredi organizations and citizens have been among those reporting for action. They feel, as Israelis, a desire to contribute to the war effort.