JERUSALEM — Deep disagreements between Israel’s ultra-Orthodox political parties and Knesset legal advisers over a proposed military draft law are emerging and could pose a risk to the stability of the governing coalition, according to a report by Israel Hayom.
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The report said Haredi factions are demanding a permanent draft exemption law rather than a temporary measure and are seeking enlistment targets that would require only about 10% of those counted under the exemption framework to join the military, while the remaining 90% continue full-time religious studies in yeshivas.
Knesset legal advisers, including those working with the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, have pushed instead for a temporary law designed to test compliance and increase enlistment among Haredi men, citing legal requirements for equality in military service.
According to Israel Hayom, the gaps came to light during recent closed-door discussions involving committee legal adviser Miri Frenkel-Shor and Knesset chief legal adviser Sagit Afik. While conflicting accounts of those meetings circulated publicly, the full scope of the disagreements had not previously been disclosed.
Haredi parties are seeking to preserve a system in which most draft-eligible men remain exempt through yeshiva enrollment, while legal advisers argue that such an arrangement would fail to meet court standards and public expectations for broader participation in national service.
Shas, one of the Haredi parties, declined to comment on specific provisions of the proposed law. Degel HaTorah said work on the legislation was ongoing and signaled it still intends to support the state budget, a key priority for the coalition.
Agudat Yisrael adopted a tougher stance. A senior source in the Hasidic faction told Israel Hayom that “anyone who studies Torah cannot be subjected to sanctions,” rejecting both personal and institutional penalties tied to non-enlistment.
The dispute goes beyond enforcement mechanisms and oversight, the report said, striking at the core structure of the draft exemption framework — an issue that has long divided Israeli society and repeatedly drawn scrutiny from the courts.
It’s Miller Time for “Genuine Draft” law! Let Gedolim have more say in hashgacha ruchnis in frum IDF units for those not seriously learning 3+ sedarim with proven bechinos. These elite talmidei chachamim (I guestimate several thousand at best) should be counted with full dignity as National Service along with United Hatzala, ZAKA & chevra Kadisha. The rest without exception should lace up their boots without having to fear a yeridah in yahahadut.
I don’t care about the coalition when my way of life, the way I raise my children is under threat, everybody who’s not naive understands that the Hasidic way of life is not possible in the army. So do I not have a right to choose my religious standards, to live, and to raise my family as Chassidim??
when the army becomes more frum, then more charadim will join.
Facts are charedim will never join. Israeli seculars need to realize it’s a lost battle and take what they can . Why would you fight a lost Baylor. Just surrender and work out something else. To my friend JJ who says but a Jew never surrenders, I disagree. It depends.if it’s a real threat to survival then yes you are right. Even though we almost all got killed in ye holocaust the few that never surrendered built the next generation. However, I don’t think it’s really like our only survival for everyone to fight. One can change that system. Is it immoral and wrong ? Yes but we can survive and must realize this is a lost battle