Israeli Government Proposes New Law to Freeze Arrests of Draft-Dodging Haredi Yeshiva Students

The Israeli government has introduced a draft law aimed at freezing arrests of Haredi yeshiva students who have evaded military service, offering a dual approach to address the issue. The proposed legislation would grant a 90-day temporary legal reprieve during which no arrests or investigations would be conducted against eligible draft candidates, provided they take steps to regularize their status within a designated timeframe. Central to the plan is the establishment of a special three-member military committee, headed by a general appointed by the Military Advocate General, which will review applications submitted by draft candidates within 30 days of the law's enactment.

To qualify for protection under the law, students must submit an application accompanied by a sworn statement from their yeshiva head confirming regular Torah study since July 1, 2023, or from the date they became subject to conscription. While under review, all legal proceedings related to draft evasion will be suspended, and if the committee confirms compliance with study requirements, charges will be formally dropped. This aims to resolve the legal ambiguity surrounding thousands of yeshiva students whose draft exemption status expired but who claim to have continued their religious studies.

However, the draft law also imposes stricter conditions for recognizing "yeshiva student" status, including a minimum of 45 weekly hours of Torah study in yeshiva or 40 hours in kollels, and a total ban on any employment outside of study. Both students and yeshiva heads must sign legal affidavits, with yeshiva leaders required to report monthly to the IDF on students who fail to meet these criteria. Oversight will be intensified through mandatory physical attendance inspections at recognized yeshivas at least quarterly. The Defense Minister must report quarterly to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on inspection outcomes.

If inspectors find repeated absenteeism of 20% or more, the yeshiva will receive a warning; continued noncompliance could lead to removal from the Defense Ministry's recognized list, potentially revoking draft deferrals for all its students. Additionally, the Education Ministry will be required to provide the IDF with data on graduates from Haredi educational institutions to improve monitoring of annual recruitment targets. Parliamentary discussions on the draft law are scheduled to begin the coming Tuesday and continue over the following weeks, aiming for Knesset approval. The proposal faces legal challenges, with critics arguing it may not withstand scrutiny by Israel's Supreme Court.