Ayelet Shaked Condemns Law Freezing Yeshiva Students' Arrests, Criticizes Religious Zionist Party

Former Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked sharply criticized the Israeli Knesset's recent approval of a law freezing the arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students. In a statement on social media, Shaked called the law an "anti-Zionist disgrace" and accused the coalition parties, including Likud and the Religious Zionist Party, of disrespecting IDF servicemembers and glorifying draft evaders. She claimed the Religious Zionist Party no longer represents the segment of Religious Zionism that bears the burden of military service, saying the party has "stolen the name of this proud sector from hundreds of thousands of families who carry the defense of the homeland on their backs." Shaked concluded her post with a Talmudic quote expressing a world turned upside down.

Beyond condemning the law itself, political analysts interpret Shaked's harsh remarks as a signal of her potential political comeback, possibly outside the right-wing bloc. Since leaving the Knesset at the end of 2022 after serving in the Bennett-Lapid-Abbas government, Shaked has remained active in public discourse on military service, national responsibility, and relations between the religious and secular communities. She currently serves as active chairwoman of Kardan Real Estate and continues to speak at conferences and engage in political debates.

Her recent attack on both Likud and the Religious Zionist Party may indicate an effort to distinguish herself politically and rebuild her influence ahead of upcoming elections. Observers note that Shaked has increasingly voiced core right-wing issues, suggesting she is preparing for a return to political life.