MK Boaz Bismuth to Convene Committee on Halting Torah Students' Arrests Amid Recruitment Concerns

MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, announced he will convene the committee this week to discuss a temporary order aimed at freezing criminal proceedings against Torah students. In a letter sent to Defense Minister Israel Katz and Government Secretary Yossi Fox, Bismuth emphasized that ongoing arrests harm efforts to recruit ultra-Orthodox men into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and deepen societal divisions.

Bismuth cited professional opinions from those involved in integrating ultra-Orthodox individuals into the military, including heads of Hesder yeshivas, warning that the current arrest policy discourages young ultra-Orthodox men from enlisting. He described the policy as creating an unprecedented rift between the general public and the ultra-Orthodox community, especially following recent roadblock protests.

The committee chairman criticized hardline figures supporting the arrests, accusing them of fueling social discord. Alongside promoting the temporary order, Bismuth urged the government and Ministry of Defense to continue dialogue with the IDF to develop practical solutions to increase ultra-Orthodox enlistment and remove existing barriers.