Knesset Legal Advisor Criticizes Major Changes to New Military Draft Law After 86 Meetings

Knesset legal advisor Adv. Shagit Afik sharply criticized the recent handling of the new military draft law during a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on Wednesday. Afik warned that the latest draft presented to the committee differs substantially from the original proposal developed over 86 sessions, undermining the legislative process's integrity.

Afik reviewed the law's legislative history, noting that after months of work and numerous meetings, the original framework was replaced with a new arrangement that she said "barely aligns with the original bill's objectives." While acknowledging that changing circumstances might require new solutions, she stressed that if the government believes a new framework is necessary, it should be pursued through a proper new bill rather than modifying the existing one. "You cannot impose a new arrangement on the skeleton of an old one," she said.

The legal advisor also addressed enforcement and oversight mechanisms proposed in the new draft, highlighting longstanding claims about the lack of effective enforcement in the draft law area. She expressed skepticism about the feasibility of developing such mechanisms within just three months under a temporary order.

Afik warned that if the committee proceeds with the limited draft currently before it, all the work done during the 86 meetings, including the various versions developed, would be wasted. She further clarified that the principle of legislative continuity could not be applied again to this work, meaning the next Knesset would have to restart the legislative process from scratch.

The debate centers on the military draft law, particularly concerning the conscription of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Israelis, a contentious issue in Israeli politics and society.