Israeli Knesset Passes Law Freezing Arrests of Haredi Draft Resisters Amid Legal Challenges
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
The Israeli Knesset passed a law freezing arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft resisters, sparking legal challenges from opposition parties who argue it undermines equality and the rule of law. The law was approved by a narrow margin, with religious party leaders defending it as essential for protecting Torah study. Meanwhile, the Knesset also reversed kosher certification privatization and approved a Basic Law on Torah Study.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Knesset passed law freezing arrests of Haredi draft resisters by 58-54 vote.
- Religious leaders called the law crucial for protecting Torah study and Jewish identity.
- Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beiteinu petitioned the Supreme Court against the law, citing inequality.
- Opposition claims the law grants criminal immunity to draft evaders and harms judicial independence.
- Knesset canceled kosher certification privatization by a 46-41 vote.
- Final approval was given to a Basic Law on Torah Study to reinforce religious education.
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.
