High Court strikes down law shielding haredi yeshiva students from arrest over draft evasion

The High Court of Justice unanimously struck down an amendment on Thursday that had frozen arrest, investigation, and enforcement proceedings against Haredi yeshiva students who failed to report for mandatory military service. The amendment, passed by the coalition on July 14, 2026, had suspended all enforcement actions against Haredi individuals who did not comply with their military service obligations under the Defense Service Law. Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg, writing the main opinion, stated that the amendment substantially departed from the original bill's subject, violating Section 85 of the Knesset Rules of Procedure. Consequently, the court ruled that the law had never properly passed its first reading, indicating a fundamental defect in the legislative process that necessitated striking down the amendment.