Netanyahu Promises Crackdown on Draft Dodgers While Funding Ultra-Orthodox Education Amid Controversy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently declared that if he forms the next government, he will act to arrest ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers who are not engaged in Torah study. This announcement, leaked as part of an alleged "internal discussion," starkly contradicts his actions just days earlier. Despite his tough rhetoric, Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, seen as closely aligned with the Prime Minister, authorized a special summer session of the Knesset Finance Committee to approve significant budget transfers.

Among the allocations is approximately 268 million shekels to ultra-Orthodox educational institutions, many of which openly oppose military conscription. This funding effectively supports draft evasion, including for those falsely claiming to be Torah students, directly undermining Netanyahu's stated intent to crack down on such evasion. The Finance Committee's session, held despite the summer recess and upcoming elections, was convened specifically to facilitate these transfers.

Opposition MKs Merav Ben Ari and Vladimir Beliak have vowed to fight the budget moves, threatening to petition the High Court of Justice if the committee approves the funding. However, given the coalition's majority, it is expected that the transfers will pass unless an unusual rebellion occurs within the ruling bloc. Critics highlight the contradiction between Netanyahu's public stance and his government's financial support for the ultra-Orthodox sector's draft evasion, accusing the leadership of political cynicism and misleading the Israeli public.

This episode follows a broader pattern of political maneuvering in Israel, where Netanyahu's government has previously pushed legislation to prevent arrests of draft dodgers. The current developments expose a significant gap between rhetoric and policy, raising questions about the government's commitment to enforcing military service laws among the ultra-Orthodox community.