Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 5, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 5, 2026
Netanyahu claims government’s Haredi enlistment bill ‘will draft 23,000 in the next 3.5 years’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Speaking at the Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that the government is seeking “broad consensus” on military draft for Haredim in its efforts to pass a law formalizing broad exemptions for the community.
“We are advancing a historic proposal,” he says, “which will draft 23,000 in the next 3.5 years.”
“It will greatly lighten the burden on reservists,” Netanyahu argues.
He says that the government bill includes personal and institutional sanctions against draft dodgers. Netanyahu claims that the previous government’s bill would only have drafted a few thousand ultra-Orthodox soldiers.
“You don’t even want to draft Haredim,” Netanyahu charges.
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