Israeli Parliament Faces Opposition Over Law Suspending Arrests of Draft Dodgers

The Israeli Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved a controversial bill to suspend the arrest of draft dodgers, primarily targeting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, moving it to a full parliamentary vote. Several coalition members have expressed opposition, raising the possibility the bill may pass narrowly or fail. The bill aims to halt what supporters call "criminal arrests" of Torah students, with MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism praising the measure as reflecting the majority Jewish public's stance against such detentions.

Opposition parties harshly criticized the bill, accusing the government of discrimination and undermining the military by "separating blood from blood" and "spitting in the faces of soldiers." Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot condemned the legislation for increasing the burden on serving soldiers and rewarding draft evasion. Opposition leader Naftali Bennett called it an anti-Zionist law encouraging mass evasion and ignoring military manpower shortages.

Within the coalition, some MKs including Boaz Bismuth attacked the legal counsel's advice to the committee, accusing it of overstepping and exacerbating societal divisions. Bismuth argued the arrests harm recruitment efforts and deepen social rifts, calling for unity and support for the vision of ultra-Orthodox enlistment. Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu labeled the bill "illegitimate" and pledged to repeal it in the next government.

Merav Michaeli of the Democratic Camp condemned the bill as discriminatory, allowing ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers freedom while secular draft evaders face punishment. Yoaz Hendel, head of the Reservists' Party, criticized the government for enabling evasion during a critical security period and vowed to ensure only Zionist parties govern in the future. The bill's final fate now rests with the full Knesset vote expected soon amid intense political debate.