Israeli Supreme Court Chief Justice Avoids Controversial Draft Law Hearing, Leaving Colleagues to Face Backlash
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
By מאיר רוזן
First reported by Srugim · Jul 16, 2026
What happened
Israeli Supreme Court President Isaac Amit has strategically recused himself from the panel reviewing a controversial draft law exempting yeshiva students from military service penalties, leaving conservative judges to face political backlash. The court views the law as discriminatory and likely unconstitutional, with an unusual nine-judge panel hearing the case amid a judicial appointment crisis. The court has already issued a conditional injunction signaling a probable law annulment.
- 01Supreme Court President Isaac Amit recuses himself from hearing on draft-dodging yeshiva students law.
- 02The law is seen by judges as discriminatory and likely unconstitutional, exempting only one sector from penalties.
- 03Amit’s absence is a strategic move to avoid public and political backlash on a highly sensitive case.
- 04Only nine of 11 sitting Supreme Court judges hear the case due to appointment delays, excluding Amit and Khaled Kabub.
- 05The court issued a rare conditional injunction shifting the burden of proof to the legislature before formal hearings.
- 06Kabub’s exclusion likely aims to prevent political attacks related to an Arab judge ruling on ultra-Orthodox draft evasion.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 2 outlets
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