Knesset Approves Law Freezing Arrests of Haredi Yeshiva Students Draft Dodgers

The Knesset passed a special temporary law freezing the arrests of Haredi yeshiva students who are draft dodgers, with 58 members supporting and 54 opposing the bill. The legislation defines a yeshiva student as someone studying Torah regularly for at least 45 hours per week, or 40 hours in a kollel, excluding customary vacation periods. The Defense Minister will set criteria for removing yeshivas from the approved list, subject to approval by the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Following the vote, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel announced her resignation. The government is also attempting to allocate hundreds of millions of shekels just before upcoming elections. The law has faced legal challenges, with petitions filed to the Supreme Court claiming it creates unprecedented legal protection for those violating military service laws and discriminates between Haredi and secular draft dodgers.

The Supreme Court has indicated the petitions are premature as the legislative process is not yet complete. The law's opponents argue it establishes two classes of draft evaders, granting legal immunity to Haredi individuals while secular evaders continue to be arrested, which they describe as clear discrimination.