Haredi Hesder Yeshiva Leaders Reject Draft Law to End Draft Arrests, Predict Supreme Court Rejection

Leaders of Haredi Hesder yeshivas have strongly criticized the proposed law to halt arrests of draft dodgers, stating it is clear to any reasonable person that the law will be struck down by the Supreme Court and will not provide a solution. This was reported on Sunday evening by Kan News. Several yeshiva heads expressed opposition to the government's initiative, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that these leaders requested the cessation of arrests. Instead, the yeshiva leaders advocate for a different approach that includes stopping arrests of young Haredim, opening additional dedicated frameworks within the Israel Defense Forces for the Haredi community, and publishing tailored recruitment tracks.

They also noted that since the law is expected to be temporary, valid for only three months, it will not resolve the issue of arrests and is likely to face legal challenges leading to its annulment by the Supreme Court. The draft law, promoted by Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, aims to stop enforcement against draft dodgers who prove that "Torah study is their profession." The plan requires a supervision mechanism ensuring 45 weekly hours of attendance at institutions and prohibits working outside, but the Haredi representatives reject technological monitoring methods.

In this context, Netanyahu recently claimed that police conduct premeditated arrests inside yeshivas, a statement contradicted by reality, which shows police do not conduct such raids but arrest draft dodgers during random enforcement and routine checks. The debate over ending arrests follows a tense week in the Haredi community, marked by protests that paralyzed traffic. Activists organized convoys from 19 locations nationwide to Prison 10, blocking major roads including Highway 1. The protests caused a car accident near Sha'ar HaGai interchange, injuring a 29-year-old pregnant woman moderately. Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf joined the protesters and supported their demands, declaring the Haredi protest will continue until all arrests cease completely.