Israel Beytenu Files Supreme Court Petition Against Haredi Yeshiva Students' Arrest Freeze Law

Israel Beytenu party and its leader Avigdor Lieberman have submitted a petition to Israel's Supreme Court challenging a newly passed law that freezes the arrest of Haredi yeshiva students for five months. The petition argues that the law effectively grants "criminal immunity to draft evaders," undermining equality, the rule of law, and judicial independence, especially as many other soldiers continue to serve mandatory and reserve duties. Lieberman condemned the law as "one of the most shameful and reckless laws in Israel's history," accusing the government coalition of discriminating between citizens and jeopardizing national security and social cohesion. The petition, filed by Lieberman, MK Oded Forer, and attorney Eitan Haverman, requests a conditional injunction to halt the law's implementation until the court rules.

The law, approved after intense parliamentary debate, suspends the arrest of Haredi draft dodgers for five months while their status is regulated. Coalition members described it as a necessary step toward a permanent solution to the conscription issue. However, opposition voices within the coalition, including MKs Dan Illouz, Yuli Edelstein, and Sharren Haskel, voted against it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the vote. Alongside Israel Beytenu, the Movement for Quality Government and the Yesh Atid faction also filed petitions against the law shortly after its passage.

Lieberman emphasized that the Chief of Staff's repeated warnings about the law's harm to the Israel Defense Forces validate their opposition, stating, "You cannot discriminate between blood and blood. The blood of our children is no less red than that of Deri's and Goldknopf's children." The petitioners argue that continuing to apply the law risks further damage to the principles of equality and the rule of law in Israel.