Eisenkot Proposes Draft Exemption for 420 Haredi Torah Students Per Draft Cycle

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has proposed exempting 420 Haredi Torah students from military service in each draft cycle, a move aimed at bridging gaps in the draft law between the Haredi and general public following the October 7th events and updated army needs. Eisenkot reportedly told MK Moshe Gafni, outgoing chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction, that the "historical accident of the exemption signed between Menachem Begin and Avraham Shapira has ended" and that the state is in "real danger to the existence of the IDF as the people's army." He suggested granting a 3% exemption to Haredim in each draft cycle, which would amount to 420 students per cycle, or approximately 2,000 Haredi yeshiva students annually. All other Haredi conscription-age men would be required to enlist in the army or national service at age 18.

This proposal effectively reinstates a quota system for yeshiva students, similar to one established by former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan after the 1967 war, though with different numbers. The original 1977 coalition agreement between Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Agudat Yisrael representative Avraham Yosef Shapira abolished an annual quota of about 800 exemptions for those whose "livelihood is Torah," allowing any Haredi man declaring himself a yeshiva student to receive a deferment and eventual full exemption. This led to a significant increase in yeshivas and students, effectively granting the Haredi public a blanket legal exemption from military service.

However, Haredi rabbis and politicians are unlikely to accept Eisenkot's proposal. Many oppose any Haredi conscription, fearing a dilution of Haredi communities if a genuine draft law is implemented. Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, a senior Sephardic-Haredi rabbinic figure, recently stated in a campaign message for the Shas party that "it is forbidden to go to this army" due to perceived irreligious influences. Despite this, there is a desire within the Haredi public for a resolution to the draft issue that avoids military service. The occasional arrests of Haredi draft dodgers have caused significant unrest and led to violent protests.

Separately, senior rabbis and politicians from United Torah Judaism have reportedly indicated a willingness to support a government led by Eisenkot in exchange for a moderate draft law that includes only economic sanctions, not criminal ones. Eisenkot and other leaders of the "change bloc" are reportedly not amenable to such a deal. Eisenkot also recently met with Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, son-in-law of the Rebbe of Gur, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, who is reportedly determined to oust Prime Minister Netanyahu. While Eisenkot's associates claim the draft issue was not discussed, it is presumed to have been raised.