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ultra-Orthodox draft

Ultra-Orthodox protesters block a road and clash with police at the entrance to Jerusalem during a protest against the jailing of yeshiva students who evaded the draft, April 29, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
9 justices unanimous in striking down the legislation
High Court annuls Haredi draft-dodger arrest ban as unconstitutional violation of equality
By Jeremy Sharon
Law passed by the government in July 'flagrantly violates state's obligation to exercise coercive power equally,' writes Judge Sohlberg
Construction in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, July 28, 2025. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)
Israel to offer 20,000 discounted homes to IDF reservists in coming years
By Zev Stub
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri attends a vote in the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 16, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 3, 2026, 1:47 pm
Deri dismisses issue of ultra-Orthodox draft evasion, saying IDF ‘knows how to cope’
Shas party chairman declines to urge his community to enlist, citing lack of ‘real tracks’ for Haredi soldiers; asked about the Hasmonean Brigade, says he ‘hasn’t looked into it’
By ToI Staff
People of Israel party chairman Ofer Winter speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, September 2, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
September 2, 2026, 11:02 pm
Winter says he’ll only join government if Haredi conscription law is passed first
People of Israel party head said to refuse call from Netanyahu with offer to get 5 guaranteed spots in Likud; Winter says he backs PM but won’t merge with politicians tainted by Oct. 7
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Israeli policemen stand by as ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a road during a protest against conscription into the Israeli army in Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv on August 24, 2026. (ilia YEFIMOVICH/AFP)
August 28, 2026, 5:00 pm
Dozens of ultra-Orthodox men block highway in West Bank after draft-dodger’s arrest
Suspect, a yeshiva student in his 20s from Ashdod, was initially stopped for driving a stolen vehicle
By ToI Staff
A video posted to social media by the IDF Personnel Directorate, then deleted, advises draft-dodgers on how to remedy their status and avoid being blocked from leaving the country, August 26, 2026. (Screenshot)
August 27, 2026, 12:23 pm
IDF posts, deletes AI video telling Haredi draft dodgers how to evade ban on traveling abroad
Personnel Directorate uploads AI-generated PSA explaining the initial step they can take toward enlistment in order to evade bar on leaving country; rabbis have reportedly advised followers to do just that, and not enlist
By Emanuel Fabian
Policemen stand by as ultra-Orthodox men block a road during a protest against conscription into the Israel Defense Forces, in Bnei Brak on August 24, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH/AFP)
August 24, 2026, 9:39 pm
Haredi protesters shut down highway near Bnei Brak over draft dodger’s arrest
Demonstration by extremist Jerusalem Faction comes after weeks-long lull in ultra-Orthodox protests
By Noam Lehmann, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Moti Leitner, chairman of The Charedi Public, and Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, head of the party's rabbinic committee, attend the kick-off of the new ultra-Orthodox faction's Knesset campaign in Beit Shemesh, August 23, 2026. (Sam Sokol/Times of Israel)
August 24, 2026, 7:26 pm
Launching campaign, new Haredi party slams ‘detachment, stupidity’ of existing factions
The Charedi Public calls for secular education, workforce participation and the enlistment of everybody who is not learning full-time in yeshiva
By Sam Sokol
A screenshot from a Shas campaign video featuring an IDF soldier from a Haredi background that was ordered taken down by the Central Elections Committee on August 23, 2026. (Screenshot/Shas)
August 23, 2026, 8:21 am
Shas launches election campaign with video aimed at courting soldiers, Zionist right
Following ultra-Orthodox party’s relentless efforts to enshrine IDF exemptions in law, it bids to soften anti-draft image ahead of elections, showing soldier coming home to Haredi family
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Jewish yeshiva students study at the Kamenitz Yeshiva, in Jerusalem on August 19, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 20, 2026, 7:51 pm
Government data said to show Haredim far likelier than other Jews to get state subsidies
Finance Ministry officials reportedly tell AG ultra-Orthodox family has 72% chance to qualify for municipal property tax discount, as opposed to 17% chance for other Jewish households
By ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox men clash with police during a protest against military enlistment, Bnei Brak, August 8, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
August 19, 2026, 10:03 am
AG says government must up enforcement against draft evaders, 83% of whom are Haredim
Gali Baharav-Miara notes fewer than 10% of indictments this year targeted ultra-Orthodox evaders; Haredi faction leader: She has no authority
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Haredi Jews block traffic during a protest against the arrest of an ultra-Orthodox draft dodger, on Route 4 near Bnei Brak, August 12, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
August 12, 2026, 8:19 pm
‘Make the earth shake’: Haredi protesters don yellow stars, block roads after draft evader’s arrest
Protesters sit in front of traffic on stretch of Route 4 outside of Bnei Brak; soldier escorted to safety by police after mob surrounds him, calls him ‘f–k up’
By Noam Lehmann and ToI Staff
Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, during a weekly teaching at the Yazdim synagogue in Jerusalem, on June 7, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/FLASH90)
August 12, 2026, 10:25 am
Former chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef reportedly orders students not to vote for Shas
Religious leader, who sits on the party’s rabbinic council, said to privately call for toppling right-wing coalition, saying Netanyahu and allies ‘hate us, but the left respects us’; he denies the story
By ToI Staff
UTJ lawmaker Moshe Gafni, left, speaks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset on December 31, 2024. (Knesset Spokesperson)
August 10, 2026, 6:52 am
Fresh election poll shows both blocs shy of majority; new parties fall short
Drama within pro- and anti-Netanyahu camps: Haredi leader claims he might not support PM, drawing scoff from Bennett; Yesh Atid MK leaves Knesset, but will he join Ra’am?
By ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
Finance Minister and head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends the party primary in Jerusalem, July 26, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 7, 2026, 12:38 pm
Smotrich placates coalition on Haredi draft, but pays a cost among settler base
After voting last month to keep ultra-Orthodox evaders out of jail, far-right minister risks losing onetime supporters who serve in IDF and bear heavy burden in wartime
By Reuters and ToI Staff
MK Yuli Edelstein (left) speaks during a conference at the Reichman University in Herzliya, on January 13, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90); former Likud MK Gilad Erdan takes part in a ceremony for a bulletproof ambulance donated by the Harvest Christian Fellowship to Magen David Adom, at the Tower of David, in the Old City of Jerusalem, June 1, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 5, 2026, 10:50 pm
Ex-Likud ministers Erdan, Edelstein to launch new right-wing party on Thursday
As-yet unnamed party will push for ultra-Orthodox conscription; is the latest to attempt to offer a right-wing alternative to Netanyahu’s ruling Likud
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox protesters demonstrate against an IDF recruitment conference for the Haredi community in Jerusalem, August 4, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 5, 2026, 2:27 am
Ex-general called ‘traitor’ as Haredi demonstrators riot at event for ultra-Orthodox draftees
Police decried as ‘Nazis’ as they intervene to protect a Haredi media adviser who says the protesters knocked off his kippa, tried to steal his laptop before cops put him in a taxi
By ToI Staff
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