Ultra-Orthodox Draft Dodger Assaults Police Officer, Sparks Riots in Beitar Illit

Riots erupted in Beitar Illit on Saturday evening after an ultra-Orthodox draft dodger from the "Man Ha'har" yeshiva assaulted a police officer with a punch and was subsequently arrested. During the clashes, a dumpster was set on fire and a police car tire was punctured. Deputy Mayor Dudi Zaltz arrived at the scene.

This incident follows reports from two weeks prior about new economic sanctions planned for ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, which are expected to cost thousands of shekels per household. These sanctions include the revocation of mortgage subsidies and the cancellation of discounts on daycare and summer camps, amounting to thousands of shekels. These measures are in addition to existing sanctions against draft evaders, such as the denial of municipal property taxes, daycare subsidies, public transportation discounts, and participation in the "Price for Buyer" housing program.

In August, nine Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled to cancel an amendment to a law that had frozen arrests, investigations, and enforcement actions against ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers. The decision was made by an expanded panel headed by Deputy President Noam Sohlberg, along with Justices Dafna Barak-Erez, David Mintz, Yael Vilner, Ofer Grosskopf, Alex Stein, Gila Kenfy-Steinitz, Yechiel Kasher, and Ruth Ronen. The ruling followed five petitions against the amendment.

Deputy President Sohlberg stated in his main opinion that the amendment significantly deviated from the subject of the bill as it passed its first reading, violating Knesset rules, and was effectively a law that had not undergone the required first reading. Furthermore, eight justices ruled the amendment unconstitutional in substance, as it severely infringes upon the core constitutional right to equality without meeting the conditions of the limitation clause. Consequently, an absolute order was issued for its cancellation.

The petitions against the law were filed by, among others, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and Chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman. They argued that the law was unprecedented, effectively granting criminal immunity to draft evaders and severely damaging the principle of equality and the rule of law, especially while hundreds of thousands of conscripts and reservists bear an unprecedented security burden. Lieberman sharply criticized the law, calling it one of the most shameful and derelict laws in the country's history, dividing the nation and tearing Israeli society apart. Conversely, representatives of ultra-Orthodox factions strongly criticized the court's decisions. MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism claimed that the Supreme Court's decision to continue the detention of Torah students is illegal and that any soldier or police officer cooperating with it is breaking the law. The law freezing arrests of draft dodgers had previously passed its second and third readings with a majority of 58 in favor and 54 against, as part of a political deal before the election recess that led to the resignation of Deputy Foreign Minister Sheren Haskel.