High Court Strikes Down Law Freezing Draft Evasion Arrests

Israel's High Court of Justice has overturned a law that would have halted arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders. The legislation, passed by the Knesset in April, aimed to prevent the arrest of yeshiva students who had not yet been drafted into the IDF, effectively extending their deferment.

The court ruled that the law was an "unreasonable" attempt to circumvent the legal process and bypass the court's authority. It stated that the Knesset had not provided sufficient justification for the law, which it deemed to be a "deception" of the court.

The ruling comes after years of legal battles over the exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service. The government has been seeking solutions to address the issue, but previous attempts to legislate a compromise have faced significant opposition and legal challenges.

This decision is expected to reignite tensions between the ultra-Orthodox community and the broader Israeli public, as well as within the government coalition. The ultra-Orthodox parties, which are key partners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, have strongly advocated for maintaining the exemptions, citing religious reasons. The ruling places the government in a difficult position, potentially forcing it to confront the deeply divisive issue of military conscription for all citizens.