Knesset Debates Contentious Ultra-Orthodox Conscription Bill Amid Coalition Rift

Knesset Committee Resumes Debates on Haredi Draft Law

The Israeli Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee recommenced discussions on Monday, December 1, 2025, regarding an updated draft law concerning the conscription of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) individuals into military service. The bill, championed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is seen as crucial for maintaining the stability of his governing coalition, which relies on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties.

The latest version of the bill, presented by committee chairman Boaz Bismuth of the Likud party, has ignited a fresh wave of controversy. Critics argue that the draft significantly rolls back previous attempts to increase Haredi enlistment and fails to address the military's urgent need for additional recruits, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts.

Key Provisions and Criticisms of the Draft Bill

The proposed legislation includes several contentious provisions:

• It reportedly reintroduces a service exemption for full-time yeshiva students.
• Sanctions against draft dodgers are weakened, with minimal penalties such as bans on foreign travel or obtaining a driving license, applicable only until the age of 23. All sanctions are set to expire at 26.
• The bill defines Haredim as those who studied at a Haredi educational institution for at least two years between the ages of 14 and 18.
• It also lowers enlistment quotas and facilitates exemptions for those engaged in religious studies.
• The draft proposes to cancel all draft orders issued to Haredim since 2023, effectively offering a retroactive 'amnesty'.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has stated an urgent need for 12,000 recruits, a figure many believe the current bill will not meet.

Widespread Opposition from Within and Outside the Coalition

The bill has faced strong opposition, even from within Netanyahu's own coalition. Yuli Edelstein, a Likud MK and former chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, vocally opposed the bill, stating it 'will harm national security' and 'is certainly not recruitment'. Edelstein was previously removed from his committee role after drafting a stricter enlistment bill.

Ofir Sofer, the Aliyah and Integration Minister from the Religious Zionist Party, publicly vowed to vote against the bill, calling its current outline 'shameful' and risking his position in the government. Other Religious Zionist Party MKs, Michal Waldiger and Moshe Solomon, have echoed this stance. Likud MKs Dan Illouz, Eliyahu Revivo, and Moshe Saada have also expressed significant reservations, with Revivo declaring that the bill 'will not have a majority' in its current form.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the Prime Minister of pushing a 'law of evasion' and described the vote to advance the bill as 'one of the most despicable moments in the history of the Knesset'. Furthermore, over 60 heads of local authorities have sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and MK Bismuth, warning that the bill 'presents a danger to the social fabric' and will 'deepen the crisis between the country's citizens and its institutions'.

Historical Context and Supreme Court Intervention

The debate over ultra-Orthodox conscription is a long-standing issue in Israel, dating back to the state's founding in 1948, when exemptions were granted to yeshiva students. However, the Supreme Court of Israel ruled in June 2024 that Haredi Jews are eligible for compulsory military service, ending decades of de facto exemption. More recently, the Supreme Court mandated the government to implement an 'effective enforcement policy' against Haredi draft evasion within 45 days, a deadline that has added pressure to the current legislative efforts.