Knesset votes to freeze arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders amid IDF manpower crisis

The passage of the bill in its final readings comes following severe legal warnings that the legislation is unbalanced and will not increase haredi enlistment amid the IDF’s severe manpower shortage, as well as outrage from bereaved families and reservists.

The plenum broke into clashes when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived ahead of the vote.

As Netanyahu entered the plenum, opposition lawmakers repeatedly shouted “disgrace” and “get out.” The prime minister left the chamber shortly afterward and did not return for the vote.

Defense Minister Israel Katz arrived at the plenum to vote in favor.

He stated that he opposes the bill’s implementation “completely and unequivocally.”

Among the issues raised by Zamir was that such a law would decrease recruitment both from the haredi community and from the general Israeli population by delegitimizing the idea of the IDF as the “nation’s army” in which everyone is equally obligated to serve.

Zamir has warned in recent months that the IDF could soon collapse if no solution is found for the manpower shortage.

The bill proposes a temporary halt on draft evader arrests to remain in effect from the date the law is published until November 30.

The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) has noted that the proposal could remain in effect beyond its stated expiration date because of the elections, which are scheduled for October 27.

Temporary legislation passed shortly before an election, which is due to expire during the election period, is automatically extended by roughly four months, as the Knesset does not function normally during that time.

As a result, the arrangement is likely to remain in force for at least six months.

Ahead of the vote, Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik asked lawmakers to declare whether they have family members classified as draft evaders, since haredi MKs whose relatives could benefit from the legislation may have a conflict of interest.

The haredi parties – Shas and United Torah Judaism – both provided lists of numerous lawmakers in their factions who had relatives classified as draft evaders, sparking outrage among opposition lawmakers in the plenum.

A group of MKs from within Netanyahu’s coalition voted against the bill, including Likud MKs Dan Illouz and Yuli Edelstein, and Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel (New-Hope United Right).

Haskel shortly afterward resigned from her position as deputy foreign minister over the passage of the legislation.

It had been unclear whether the Religious Zionist Party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, would support the bill.

There had been reported tensions between Smotrich’s party and the haredi parties amid the coalition’s legislative blitz to pass its legislation during the Knesset’s last week before it goes into recess ahead of the elections.

Lawmakers from within RZP ultimately voted in favor, following reports of a deal struck with the haredi parties to advance each other’s legislation.

The bill’s proposal defines a yeshiva student as someone who studies Torah at a yeshiva regularly, for no less than 45 hours per week, or in a kollel for no less than 40 hours per week.

The proposal also stipulates that the defense minister will be responsible for compiling the list of yeshivas that would be relevant.

The government has presented its stance that the freeze of arrests would be beneficial, arguing that arresting yeshiva students who evade military service has undermined efforts to encourage broader enlistment among haredi men.

Opponents and the Knesset’s legal adviser have argued that the bill is unbalanced largely because it only calls for halting the arrests of draft evaders without including any sanctions on them.

The Knesset’s legal advisory warned in its opinion on Sunday that the legislation could effectively exempt haredim from IDF service, failing to advance “equality in sharing the burden.”

Afik also warned that the legislative process undertaken to advance the bill was part of “an improper legislative process.”

She and opponents of the bill argue that it has undergone significant changes from the version that passed its first reading years ago, following dozens of committee discussions that reshaped its original framework in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The bill is part of a series of haredi-backed bills being advanced, amid numerous reports of agreements between the haredi parties and Netanyahu to advance coalition legislation.

Haredi parties had boycotted votes on coalition legislation when their bills were not advancing quickly enough.

The plenum agenda this week has been packed with controversial coalition bills, such as the bill to weaken the role of the attorney-general, along with legislation for a sweeping reform of Israel’s broadcasting sector.

The Knesset plenum also passed on Monday the contentious legislation that will enshrine Torah study as a fundamental value in the country’s Basic Law.

In April, the High Court of Justice ordered that the state take concrete steps to revoke key financial benefits from draft evaders and to move toward criminal enforcement against haredi men who evade military service.

Immediately after the bill’s passage, multiple petitions were sent to the High Court against the legislation, calling for it to be struck down.

The petitions were filed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, along with the opposition parties Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu.

MQG stated that “the coalition removed its final mask today and made it clear, loudly and unequivocally, that it discriminates between one person’s blood and another’s.”

Yisrael Beytenu leader MK Avigdor Liberman also condemned the legislation, calling it “one of the most shameful and irresponsible laws Israel has seen since its establishment.