Israeli Parliament Debates Draft Law to Freeze Draft-Dodger Arrests Amid Transport Reform Delay

The Israeli Knesset convened on Tuesday to discuss a proposed law aimed at freezing the arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers. This legislative push is part of a coalition effort to finalize agreements with ultra-Orthodox parties before the Knesset recesses for elections on July 17. The bill, which received preliminary approval overnight in the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, follows a warning letter from IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. Ahead of the vote, Knesset legal adviser Attorney Shagit Afek clarified that lawmakers with close relatives involved in enforcement or arrest proceedings related to draft evasion must disclose this connection, though they are not barred from voting. Afek noted the bill includes mechanisms to halt arrests and cancel legal proceedings against draft dodgers who have made evasion their practice, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest or appearances thereof. She emphasized that members of Knesset with relatives under arrest orders or legal processes must disclose before voting, but this does not prevent their participation in the vote. However, this disclosure requirement does not extend to the broader group of yeshiva students who have not yet received arrest orders. Afek stressed that the primary responsibility to avoid conflicts lies with the lawmakers themselves.

Meanwhile, a transport reform intended to ease traffic congestion and delegate planning authority to local municipalities was removed from the agenda under pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, who feared it might lead to Sabbath desecration. This occurred despite assurances during Economic Committee discussions that the law would include safeguards to maintain the existing status quo regarding Sabbath observance. The advocacy group "Redirecting" criticized this move as a cynical political ploy, warning that the public would bear the consequences. Currently, any changes to bus routes or infrastructure require bureaucratic approval from the Ministry of Transport, causing a disconnect from passenger needs. Treasury representatives highlighted that traffic congestion costs the Israeli economy approximately 40 billion shekels annually. It remains unclear when the transport reform bill will be rescheduled, as priority is now given to advancing the Basic Law on Torah Study and the draft-dodger arrest freeze law.