Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 17, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Lapid: Attempt to rush draft exemption law ‘yet another betrayal of IDF troops’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam 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"
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid at a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on March 9, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Responding to reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered the Haredi parties to rush the coalition’s controversial draft exemption bill through the Knesset, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid declares that the premier “knows that he is facing defeat in the elections and will do everything to gain a few more days in the Prime Minister’s Office.”
“His attempt to sell out Israel’s security and to try to pass the draft exemption law is yet another betrayal of IDF fighters and the reservists,” Lapid posts on X.
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here