Supreme Court Overturns Law Exempting Haredi Draft Dodgers

Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously struck down an amendment to the Security Service Law that had effectively halted enforcement actions against Haredi men evading military conscription. The nine-judge panel ruled that the legislative process for the amendment was fundamentally flawed, as the approved text deviated significantly from the original bill that passed its first reading in the Knesset.

Furthermore, eight of the nine justices determined that the amendment severely infringed upon the right to equality, rendering it unconstitutional. This ruling means that enforcement measures against Haredi draft dodgers can now proceed.

The amendment, passed in March, was intended to freeze legal proceedings against yeshiva students who had received deferments but failed to enlist, a move that had sparked protests from secular Israelis and reservists who argued it undermined the principle of equal burden-sharing in national service.

The court's decision comes after months of legal challenges and public debate surrounding the conscription of the Haredi community, a sensitive issue in Israeli society. The ruling is expected to intensify political tensions and potentially lead to further legislative efforts to address the conscription of Haredi men.