Israeli Coalition Negotiates Freeze on Haredi Draft Evasion Arrests in Exchange for Increased Haredi Military Recruitment
Senior members of the Israeli coalition have recently engaged in confidential talks with leaders of the Haredi Hesder yeshivas, which enlist their students into the military, to draft a new law freezing arrests of draft evaders. This proposed legislation would also include budgetary incentives to encourage Haredi enlistment by investing in institutions that recruit students for the Israel Defense Forces, reflecting a plan presented by Hesder yeshiva heads in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
These negotiations are occurring without the knowledge of the ultra-Orthodox political parties, who have vetoed meetings between Netanyahu and Hesder yeshiva leaders due to institutional opposition to their activities. The new law aims to halt arrests while significantly increasing funding to promote enlistment and expand Hesder yeshivas. However, prominent Haredi leaders such as Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Litzman are expected to strongly oppose the plan, as they resist normalizing military service among Haredim.
Following a report by Channel 13 revealing the Hesder yeshivas’ proposal, the Hesder Yeshiva Heads Association appealed to MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, urging him to meet and adopt their full plan. They argue the proposal meets all constitutional and legal requirements and call for a sustainable solution to protect Torah study. Yet, some insiders describe the current committee discussion as ineffective, noting the legal advisor has already indicated the draft law fails basic legal tests.
The proposed legislation includes a 90-day freeze on enforcement actions such as arrests or investigations against draft-eligible yeshiva students who declare they meet study conditions as of July 1, 2023. The IDF Chief of Staff would establish a committee within seven days to review each student’s status. Students must submit personal affidavits and confirmation from their yeshiva head to qualify. During the review, no criminal proceedings would be initiated or continued. However, protections would not apply to those failing to submit required documents within 30 days or if the committee finds they do not meet criteria after hearing their case.
The ultra-Orthodox establishment opposes cooperation with Hesder yeshivas, fearing that legitimizing their role in regulating draft evasion would undermine their stance against military service. Consequently, coalition members are navigating a delicate political balance amid public criticism and intra-coalition tensions over the sensitive issue of Haredi conscription.
