Israel's Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Exempting Haredi Draft Dodgers

Israel's High Court of Justice unanimously invalidated a law that would have prevented the arrest of Haredi draft dodgers. The court, with a majority of nine justices, ruled that the amendment to the law, passed by the Knesset in mid-July, suffered from a fundamental procedural flaw. Deputy President Justice Noam Sohlberg, writing the central opinion agreed upon by all justices, explained that the amendment significantly deviated from the original bill's subject matter after its first reading, violating Knesset regulations. He stated that this procedural defect, which meant the law effectively bypassed its first reading, was so severe it necessitated its cancellation.

Furthermore, eight of the nine justices determined that the amendment was unconstitutional in its substance, as it severely infringed upon the fundamental right to equality without meeting the conditions of the limitation clause. Justice Mintz dissented on this point. Consequently, the court issued an absolute order canceling the amendment, effectively reinstating the previous legal status regarding the arrest of Haredi draft dodgers.