Knesset passes law banning arrests of Haredi draft dodgers, legitimizing ongoing non-enlistment

The Knesset passed a law 58-54 on Tuesday, temporarily banning the arrest and prosecution of ultra-Orthodox men evading military service until January 2027, effectively legitimizing ongoing Haredi non-enlistment. This measure grants tens of thousands of Haredi draft evaders immunity from arrest and suspends existing criminal proceedings. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called the proposal “inconceivable,” stating it was “clearly and unequivocally inconsistent with the IDF’s needs.” The law has drawn fierce opposition, with opposition parties and NGOs immediately petitioning the High Court of Justice to overturn it, accusing the government of “trampling the principle of equality in bearing the burden.”