Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

ultra-Orthodox draft

Minister of Finance and Head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends the Religious Zionism party primaries ahead of the upcoming Israeli general elections, 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
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center), Justice Minister Yariv Levin (left), and Defense Minister Israel Katz (right), with ultra-Orthodox MKs Yitzchak Goldknopf, Moshe Gafni and Meir Porush behind them, seen in the Knesset shortly before the vote on a law banning arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers and legitimizing ongoing mass ultra-Orthodox non-enlistment, July 14, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 2, 2026, 5:10 pm
Opposition pans Netanyahu ‘spin’ as he distances himself from Haredi draft evasion law
PM reportedly says he will not pursue further legislation seeking to exempt ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers from arrest; Bennett: He ‘thinks the serving public is dumb’
By Sam Sokol
Shir Matias, whose parents Deborah (Shachar) and Shlomi were killed protecting her brother Rotem at their Kibbutz Holit home in the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, speaks at an anti-government rally in Habima Aquare, Tel Aviv, August 1, 2026. (Movement for Quality Government in Israel)
August 2, 2026, 4:20 am
At Tel Aviv rally, daughter of couple slain on Oct. 7 says government is ‘defiling our dead’
Weekly anti-government protests held in various locations, slamming failure to probe Hamas attack and also decrying Haredi military exemptions, settler violence
By Noam Lehmann
A group of ultra-Orthodox males harass several off-duty soldiers walking in Jerusalem, July 30, 2026. (Screenshots/Yaakov Hershkovitz via X)
July 31, 2026, 6:05 am
Off-duty soldiers, Border Police attacked in Jerusalem by dozens of Haredi men
Assailants were attending rally celebrating the release of 63 people arrested during recent attack on home of deputy Supreme Court chief to protest the arrest of draft dodgers
By ToI Staff
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir speaks to Haredi officers in the Hasmonean Brigade, on the Lebanon border, July 29, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)
July 29, 2026, 9:28 pm
IDF chief tells Haredi commanders army must grow, as data shows uptick in enlistment
Visiting ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean brigade on Lebanon border, Zamir says Haredi integration ‘vital’ to Israeli security; enlistment numbers are still short of target figure
By Emanuel Fabian
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest outside Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of yeshiva students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, June 17, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90)
July 28, 2026, 3:25 pm
High Court extends freeze on law banning arrest of Haredi draft dodgers
Justices barely challenge legal arguments that law is discriminatory and violated Knesset procedure, speak out sharply against Haredi claim in court that Torah ‘forbids’ enlistment
By Jeremy Sharon
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, September 30, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/ Flash90)
July 25, 2026, 5:00 am
AG urges High Court to strike down law freezing arrest of Haredi draft dodgers
Gali Baharav-Miara, representing the state, says law is ‘discriminatory’ and ‘an extreme and clear case of harmful legislation that does not meet legal standards’
By ToI Staff and Jeremy Sharon
Rabbi Dov Lando speaks on April 26, 2026. (Courtesy)
July 20, 2026, 7:30 pm
Top Haredi rabbi says religious soldiers committing murder; Netanyahu issues rare criticism
Degel HaTorah spiritual leader suggests Israel sends soldiers to war ‘for the honor of the state,’ which ‘incites murder’; Haredi lawmakers defend his comments
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) together with fellow Likud ministers Yariv Levin (left) and Shlomo Karhi (right) attend a Knesset plenum session at which a law boosting government authority over media was passed, July 16, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 17, 2026, 9:50 am
Coalition’s ‘legislative blitz’ is designed to shore-up, unshackle right-wing power
Raft of contentious laws passed this week increases power of right-wing media, throws off attorney general’s legal restraints, and keeps the Haredim inside Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc
By Jeremy Sharon
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a bus on Route 4, near Bnei Brak, during a demonstration against the arrest of draft evaders, on July 16, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 16, 2026, 10:04 pm
Ultra-Orthodox extremists block roads, clash with public over arrest of draft dodgers
Two arrested as roads in central Israel closed, public transport routes altered; video shows cyclist attacked by Haredi mob; thousands attend separate rally outside military prison
By ToI Staff
Shas chair Aryeh Deri (left) attends a Knesset plenum session and a vote on a bill to split the duties and powers of the attorney general, on July 15, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Operation Entebbe at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, July 12, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 16, 2026, 5:11 pm
Deri accuses IDF chief of election interference for opposing ban on arresting draft dodgers
Shas chair, a member of key security cabinet, claims Zamir harmed the army by speaking out against law benefiting Haredi evaders, says he no longer recognizes High Court’s authority after it froze legislation
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, center, alongside Likud's Justice Minister Yariv Levin, left, and Defense Minister Israel Katz, right, during a Knesset vote on a bill to freeze arrests of Haredi draft evaders in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 16, 2026, 4:50 pm
Pyrrhic victory on law banning arrests of draft dodgers could cost Netanyahu coalition at ballot box
Likud and its allies went to mat for an unpopular law meant to shield ultra-Orthodox from military conscription, losing vital support in the name of legislation that is already on its way to being struck down
By Tal Schneider
Likud MK Dan Illouz attends a plenum session in Knesset, July 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 16, 2026, 8:15 am
Likud MK resigns, says a third of party MKs wanted to oust Netanyahu after Oct. 7
Dan Illouz says Likud has been ‘hijacked’ by Haredi interests: Efforts to enshrine draft exemption are a ‘disgrace that made it clear to me that my place is no longer in Likud’
By ToI Staff
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.