Dozens of Israeli Mayors Oppose Law Freezing Draft Arrests, Warn of National Harm

Dozens of Israeli local government leaders, including prominent Likud-affiliated mayors, have sent a sharp letter to the government condemning the recent legislation freezing arrests of draft dodgers, calling it a "severe blow to national resilience and social cohesion." The letter, signed by figures such as Haim Bibas and Eli Dukorsky, criticizes what they term "surrender to the ultra-Orthodox" on the issue of military conscription.

The controversy arises as the Knesset is set to approve a two-month extension of mandatory military service overnight, a decision made to address manpower shortages and increase the burden on those serving. This move has intensified debates over the distribution of military service obligations within Israeli society.

The legal battle escalated when the Supreme Court halted the implementation of the freeze on arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, sparking accusations among ultra-Orthodox parties. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri faces criticism from within his own camp, particularly from Agudat Yisrael members, who blame him for pushing a law they believed would not withstand judicial scrutiny. Degel HaTorah also expressed discontent with Deri’s unilateral approach in securing support for the law.

The judicial setback has also led United Torah Judaism to reconsider its backing of a separate government bill aimed at weakening the media, promoted by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi. The party is reportedly leaning toward abstention, citing exhaustion and opposition to the expansion of the Idan+ broadcasting platform, which would operate multiple channels without content filtering on the Sabbath, a move they view as state-sponsored Sabbath desecration.

These developments highlight growing tensions within the coalition and raise questions about the political stability between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties amid ongoing debates over military service and societal divisions.