Israeli Supreme Court Freezes Law Banning Arrests of Draft-Dodging Yeshiva Students Amid Political Turmoil

On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Ofer Groskopf issued a temporary injunction preventing the enforcement of a newly passed law that cancels the arrest of yeshiva students evading military service. This decision sparked immediate political upheaval less than 24 hours after the Knesset approved the legislation.

Opposition parties and petitioners welcomed the court's move as a necessary check against what they call "draft-dodging laws." Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition party Yesh Atid, stated that the court confirmed the obvious: desertion and refusal to serve in the military during wartime are illegal. Israel Beiteinu hailed the ruling as a "huge victory" and vowed to continue fighting for equal military burden-sharing. Democratic Party leader Yair Golan criticized ultra-Orthodox lawmakers for conflicts of interest, suggesting their families might be affected if arrests resume. The Movement for Quality Government, also petitioners, called the injunction an important achievement but emphasized their ongoing legal battle to fully repeal the draft-dodging law and the Basic Law on Torah Study.

Conversely, coalition members reacted with fierce condemnation. Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri accused the Supreme Court of overstepping its authority and deepening societal divisions, claiming the court acted as a political arm of left-wing parties. Deri warned the injunction would fuel chaos and civil strife, asserting that most Israelis have lost trust in the court. Other coalition figures, including Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and MK Meir Porush, openly urged law enforcement to defy the court order, calling it illegal and illegitimate. Likud MK Tali Gottlieb accused the opposition and the deputy attorney general of deliberately distorting facts to incite hatred against the government, clarifying that the law exempts only yeshiva students from arrest, not all ultra-Orthodox men. She also criticized the judiciary for obstructing the government’s efforts.

The political crisis highlights the deep divisions over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men and the judiciary’s role in Israeli democracy. The Supreme Court’s temporary freeze leaves the law’s future uncertain as legal and political battles continue.