Israeli Knesset Passes Law Freezing Arrests of Haredi Draft Resisters Amid Legal Challenges

The Israeli Knesset approved a controversial law freezing the arrests of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft resisters on Tuesday, passing it in both second and third readings with a vote of 58 in favor and 54 against. Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, hailed the legislation as a vital step to protect Torah study and its scholars, emphasizing its significance for the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Aryeh Deri, leader of the Shas party, added that the Knesset sent a clear message against what he described as persecution and hatred toward Torah learners, urging unity against divisive rhetoric from the dismissed Attorney General and others.

In response, the opposition parties Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beiteinu filed petitions to the Supreme Court challenging the law. Yesh Atid criticized the legislation as deepening discrimination between different segments of Israeli society, particularly between secular and Haredi soldiers, especially in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. Yisrael Beiteinu argued that the law grants unprecedented criminal immunity to draft evaders, undermining equality, the rule of law, and judicial independence at a time when many soldiers bear a heavy security burden.

Separately, the Knesset reversed a reform that had privatized kosher certification, voting 46 to 41 to cancel it. Additionally, the Knesset gave final approval to a Basic Law on Torah Study, further emphasizing the legislative focus on religious education and its societal role.