Bismuth’s Draft Law Revealed – And Immediately Rejected: ‘Disgraceful Evasion Law’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The new draft law being promoted by MK Boaz Bismuth is expected to be officially published only on Monday, but on Tuesday Channel 12 revealed the full text of the proposed law.

The new law removes the quota of combat soldiers but recognizes civil-security service as part of the quota.

During the night of the Iranian attack, compromise agreements were reached between Yuli Edelstein and the charedi parties. Once the tension subsided, Edelstein submitted another, improved draft, for which he was later dismissed. Bismuth’s outline now attempts to return to what was known as the “Iran Night compromise.”

The Main Points of Bismuth’s New Draft Law

• The requirement for a quota of combat soldiers has been canceled.
• Civil-security service will be recognized as part of the quota.
• Definition of “charedi”: anyone who studied in a yeshiva for two years (instead of three).
• Driver’s license ban – applies only to new draft dodgers.
• The fingerprint requirement in yeshivas has been canceled.
• Travel abroad prohibited until age 26.

Explanation of the Clauses

Canceling the combat soldier quota:
In the previous draft, a certain percentage of recruits had to be combat soldiers.
The Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee claims the IDF itself says it cannot control this quota.

Civil-security service:
Activities in organizations such as ZAKA and United Hatzalah (emergency response volunteers) would now count as national service.

Who is considered “charedi”?
Anyone who studied two years in a yeshiva, not three. This change is expected to make it easier to recruit people who have drifted to the margins of Haredi society.

Driver’s license ban:
Only for new draft evaders. Those who already have a license will keep it.

Fingerprint requirement:
The clause that Edelstein inserted after the “Iran Night” compromise has been removed.

Ban on leaving Israel:
Will apply until age 26. After that — one may freely travel abroad.
This follows a legal argument that one cannot prevent a person from leaving the country for life.

The leak of the draft law sparked angry reactions from politicians and reservist organizations.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid attacked: “What has been placed on the table of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is not a draft law, it’s a disgraceful evasion law, a spit in the face of the soldiers.”

Lapid promised that if this draft advances: “In the next government, any charedi who does not show up at the enlistment center will receive no money from the state and will not be allowed to vote.”

Gal Shinoter, Chair of the Student Union at Tel Aviv University and one of the leaders of the student protest for equal draft law, responded:

“Netanyahu and Bismuth’s fake draft law will tear Israeli society apart. While our friends collapse under the burden on the battlefield, the government cancels the combat quota for Haredim and removes sanctions on Haredi draft dodgers. You will pay a heavy price at the ballot box. We will die before we dodge the draft.”

Benny Gantz, Chair of Blue and White, also reacted on Channel 12’s evening news, tweeting: “Another coalition deal on the backs of our children. Shame on you.”

Even Likud MKs criticized the draft , including Dan Illouz, who has taken an independent stance in recent years on the issue of charedi enlistment:

“This is a Shas law, it won’t draft Haredim and it will harm our serving public who vote for us,” he wrote on X.

Yoaz Hendel’s “Reservists Party” responded: “This is an unprecedented disgrace. The law is a joke — it contains no enforcement. A draft dodger will receive money and state support, while those who serve will get no preferential treatment whatsoever.”

Reservist organizations also condemned the draft law. “Partnership for Service” Forum, representing over 5,000 religious Zionist women whose family members serve, stated:

“This draft is a deception that will not bring about enlistment and does not address the security needs of the state after October 7, it’s a bluff law.”

The “Shoulder to Shoulder” reservists’ organization said:“The proposed law will not draft charedim. Its goal is to bring Shas back into the coalition and immediately restore stipends to draft refusers. Bismuth is stabbing soldiers in the heart — soldiers who risk their lives for the country.”

The Coalition of Reserve Organizations also attacked: “This law harms the security of the state. It entrenches the immoral and intolerable situation in which a large and valuable sector of society does not participate in defending the homeland.”

The National-Religious Reservists Forum added:“This is a sad night. At this very moment, thousands of reservists are serving on all fronts, while Bismuth turns his back on them. A law that cancels combat enlistment, recognizes ZAKA work as military service, defines ex-charedim as charedi recruits, and cancels all sanctions on those who choose not to serve, this is a ‘full exemption law.’”