Netanyahu Promises Fast Track for Ultra-Orthodox Draft-Related Bills After Voting Boycott

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised ultra-Orthodox parties that two disputed bills will be advanced next week through an expedited process, according to a Wednesday evening report on Kan News. The planned legislation includes a Basic Law on Torah study and a bill on arresting draft evaders. Despite the pledge, the Haredi parties are still waiting to receive formal invitations to the committee debates.

The announcement followed a morning boycott that prompted the Knesset plenum to cancel its session after the ultra-Orthodox refused to vote until they saw real progress on the bills. Earlier in the day, Kan News reported that legal officials believe the proposed bill to end arrests of Haredi draft dodgers does not meet proper legal standards and is unlikely to survive High Court scrutiny.

Those officials are expected to oppose the initiative in the Knesset legal advisory process, especially because it is supposed to be advanced as a temporary order. Netanyahu had told Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism faction leader Moshe Gafni, after meeting them on Tuesday, that he was committed to passing the laws and moving them quickly.

Meanwhile, ultra-Orthodox protesters demonstrated in the afternoon against the arrests of draft evaders, causing major traffic disruptions on key roads. The demonstrators set out in motorcades from 19 locations across the country and were heading toward Prison 10 near the Beit Lid army camp.