Edelstein says wording of Haredi draft bill still under debate, denies pressure from PM

By Sam Sokol 23 February 2025, 4:59 pm

1 Edit

Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, left, chairs a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, February 18, 2025. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset Spokesman's Office)

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein tells lawmakers that the wording of the Haredi enlistment bill currently being debated has yet to be agreed upon and “there will be no votes until the end of this week.”

According to Hebrew media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — under pressure from his ultra-Orthodox coalition allies — has leaned on Edelstein to advance the legislation and present a final draft of the bill for a vote in the coming days. Edelstein has denied being pressured, telling the committee that Netanyahu and his associates have not called him directly.

Edelstein’s committee is slated to meet three times this week to discuss the bill, focusing on the application of sanctions on draft dodgers. Earlier this month, the veteran Likud lawmaker stated that he is under no obligation to agree with the position of the government on the issue of ultra-Orthodox enlistment.

Addressing his committee in early February, he rejected what he called “conspiracy theories” that the coalition will transfer the discussion to another committee.