MK Maklev Rejects Supreme Court Authority Ahead of Haredi Draft Law Hearing

MK Uri Maklev of the United Torah Judaism party stated before the Supreme Court hearing on the controversial law freezing arrests of draft-dodging Haredi yeshiva students that "we do not work for the Supreme Court and cannot act according to their rulings." He made these remarks on Monday evening to hundreds of Haredi activists ahead of Tuesday's court session, emphasizing that the court's views do not represent theirs and calling it "treasonous" to consider the court's decisions as binding.

The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions against the law with a panel of nine justices. The government has chosen not to be represented at the hearing, and officials are not expected to participate. However, Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs wrote that the law should not be overturned, stating, "The state needs Haredi recruits, not Haredi detainees."

Legal counsel to the Knesset recently submitted a response to the petitions, highlighting significant procedural flaws in the law's enactment. The counsel noted that the legislation process did not comply with Knesset regulations and failed to meet the high standards required under the circumstances. The opinion also pointed to serious constitutional issues with the law, which was passed as a temporary measure until November 30, after the upcoming elections.

The law was approved by the Knesset about two weeks ago with a narrow margin of 58 to 54 votes. Shortly after, the Supreme Court issued a conditional injunction freezing the law's implementation. The legislation has sparked protests among Haredi communities, including road blockades, opposing the freeze on arrests of draft dodgers.