Israeli Public Overwhelmingly Opposes Freezing Arrests of Draft Dodgers Amid Knesset Debate

Ahead of upcoming elections, a Walla survey revealed that 81% of 5,372 respondents oppose the Knesset's decision to freeze arrests of draft dodgers, while 17% support it and 2% are undecided. This follows the Knesset's approval of a bill to suspend arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders in a narrow vote of 58 to 54 after months of negotiations and political tension involving ultra-Orthodox parties.

The parliamentary debate grew heated, with MK Shlomo Karhi calling MK Merav Ben Ari a "deadly woman" based on a halachic concept, accusing her of political damage to multiple parties. Opposition members protested his remarks, and the vote was delayed due to disputes over amendments. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced jeers of "shame" and "go away" during his brief appearance, while Defense Minister Israel Katz, who voted in favor, was also booed but received a handshake of support from United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf.

Shortly after the bill's passage, the Supreme Court issued a conditional injunction preventing the law from taking effect amid numerous petitions. The court cited its longstanding rulings on yeshiva students' conscription and the significant legal challenges raised, ordering the respondents to justify why the Security Service Law should not be annulled.