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draft evasion

United Torah Judaism MKs Yitzhak Pindrus (left), Moshe Gafni, and Yitzhak Goldknopf seen in the Knesset at a session where a Basic Law enshrining Torah study as a foundational value of the state was approved, July 13, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Movement for Quality Gov't petitions court to strike it down
Israel passes quasi-constitutional law declaring Torah study a foundational value
By Ariela Karmel
Defying outcry from legal officials, the IDF, reservists and opposition parties, coalition secures final approval of flagship Basic Law, which aims to help enable ongoing broad exemption of ultra-Orthodox young men from IDF service
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir speaks to troops of the Kfir Brigade's Netzah Yehuda Battalion, a largely Orthodox unit, in the Gaza Strip, March 6, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
IDF chief denounces ‘inconceivable’ bill freezing ultra-Orthodox enlistment
By Emanuel Fabian and Jeremy Sharon
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir speaks at the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers’ course in southern Israel, June 25, 2026. (Flash90)
July 13, 2026, 10:29 pm
Full text: IDF chief’s letter to Netanyahu, Katz against bill freezing Haredi enlistment
Zamir asks PM, defense minister, and chair of Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to remove section from legislation that would require army to review who can skip service
By ToI Staff
Combat veterans suffering from PTSD react during a House Committee hearing on the so-called Torah Study bill, at the Knesset on July 9, 2026. Yitzhak Goldknopf is seated with back to camera. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 9, 2026, 9:17 pm
Haredi parties give a little ground: Basic Law won’t explicitly put Torah study on par with IDF service
Bill advances in 6-4 committee vote, with final Knesset readings slated for next week; combat veterans with PTSD interrupt hearing: ‘You’ve exploited us for political gain; rebel Likud MK: ‘Compromise’ is mere ‘window dressing’
By Ariela Karmel
Haredi rioters break into the IDF's Beit Lid base, July 8, 2026. (Screenshots/X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
July 9, 2026, 9:08 am
Ultra-Orthodox rioters briefly breach base that houses military prison, courts
Dozens of protesters walk in through gates of Beit Lid facility, where they clash with soldiers; no injuries or arrests reported
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir speaks at the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers’ course in southern Israel, June 25, 2026. (Flash90)
July 2, 2026, 8:48 pm
After Basic Law exalting Torah study advances, IDF chief says soldiers must be prioritized
Day after bill to shield Haredi draft evaders passes 1st reading, senior military officer warns Knesset of military’s personnel shortage, urges extension of mandatory service
By Emanuel Fabian
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) speaks to United Torah Judaism lawmakers Moshe Gafni (right) and Yitzhak Goldknopf in the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem, July 1, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 2, 2026, 1:22 am
Contentious Basic Law on Torah study, aimed at shielding draft evaders, passes 1st reading
Four coalition MKs vote against legislation, which has been sharply criticized by legal authorities; opposition politicians vow to cancel law if they form next government
By Ariela Karmel
MK Ofir Katz chairs a House Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 30, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 30, 2026, 7:42 pm
Knesset advances Basic Law on Torah study, pushes to freeze arrests of draft dodgers
Bill heads to first Knesset vote as government also moves ahead with parallel measure to shield current draft evaders from criminal enforcement, ignoring IDF opposition
By Ariela Karmel
MK Boaz Bismuth leads a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, February 24, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 28, 2026, 9:19 pm
Knesset panel to advance measure freezing arrests of Haredi draft evaders for 90 days
Foreign affairs and defense panel chair makes announcement amid bid to end Haredi boycott of coalition; opposition slams bill equating Torah study, IDF service
By Ariela Karmel, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchak Goldknopf (left) and his senior aide Motti Babchik attend a meeting of the Knesset House Committee in Jerusalem, June 16, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 26, 2026, 2:02 am
Knesset to hold marathon discussions next week to fast-track Basic Law on Torah study
Parliament’s legal adviser warns lawmakers against accelerated process, as MKs seek to push through legislation before Knesset’s expected dissolution ahead of elections
By Ariela Karmel and Stav Levaton
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators block Route 1 near Jerusalem during a protest against the imprisonment of yeshiva students who failed to comply with military recruitment orders, June 24, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 25, 2026, 12:58 am
Haredi convoys spark clashes, traffic chaos; most protesters fail to reach IDF prison
Police assess 1,000 cars joined anti-draft demonstration; video shows some members of public reacting violently to protesters; pregnant woman reportedly hurt in car accident caused by convoy
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reserve combat officers in Gush Etzion in the West Bank, June 23, 2026. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)
June 23, 2026, 9:50 pm
Haredi parties deny report of deal with Netanyahu to pass array of pre-election laws
Report claims sides agreed on Oct. 20 election date, and to pass laws to boost rights of Torah students, stop arrests of draft-evaders, constrict AG’s role, hold PM’s favored political probe of Oct. 7
By Sam Sokol
Security forces stand guard as ultra-Orthodox Jews gather to protest against the detention of Haredi draft evaders outside the Bet Lid military prison in Kfar Yona on June 17, 2026. (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP)
June 23, 2026, 2:21 pm
Officials agree to election-day moratorium on draft dodger arrests
Citing ‘importance of right to vote,’ Central Elections Committee, AG, police remove threat of detention from thousands of ultra-Orthodox evaders
By 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)
June 21, 2026, 8:52 am
Top Shas rabbi: US-Iran deal is divine punishment for arrests of Haredi draft dodgers
Ex-Sephardic chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, known for controversial remarks on matters of religion and state, also says ‘garbage’ attorney general to blame for Trump’s ‘turn against’ Israel
By Sam Sokol
Motti Babchik, a senior UTJ political operative, and thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest outside an IDF Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, June 17, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90)
June 18, 2026, 10:20 pm
Enraged by arrests of draft evaders, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community is in revolt
Yeshiva students are blocking roads and breaking into police stations as Haredi parties hold coalition’s legislative agenda hostage. PM said to be considering halting detentions
By Sam Sokol
United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 17, 2026, 6:46 am
UTJ lawmaker Porush warns Haredim may go after AG ‘with sticks and stones’
Ultra-Orthodox MK warns his faction could soon ‘completely disassociate ourselves from cooperation with other government authorities that are taking part in the persecution against us’
By Sam Sokol
L-R, front: MKs Yitzhak Goldknopf (L), Moshe Gafni and Yinon Azulai in the Knesset, January 14, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 16, 2026, 7:00 pm
Haredi Knesset boycott continues, putting coalition’s legislative blitz at risk
Bills pulled from plenum agenda for second day in a row as Haredim demand return of daycare subsidies for draft evaders; we ‘will not accept any delay,’ says Degel HaTorah
By Sam Sokol
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