Israeli Public Overwhelmingly Opposes Freezing Arrests of Draft Dodgers Amid Knesset Debate
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
A Walla survey shows 81% oppose the Knesset's recent bill freezing arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers. The bill passed narrowly amid heated debate and was immediately blocked by the Supreme Court pending further review.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- 81% of 5,372 respondents oppose freezing arrests of draft dodgers in a Walla survey.
- Knesset approved the bill 58-54 after months of political tension with ultra-Orthodox parties.
- Debate included heated exchanges and protests against MK Shlomo Karhi's remarks.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz faced public jeers during the session.
- Supreme Court issued a conditional injunction blocking the law hours after its approval.
- Court cited legal challenges and ordered justification to prevent annulment of the law.
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.
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