Israel Passes Draft Exemption for 72,000 Haredi Men as High Court Freezes Law
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 17
Israel Passes Draft Exemption for 72,000 Haredi Men as High Court Freezes Law
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 17
Summary
Israel’s parliament approved a temporary shield for tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders until late January 2027, but the High Court issued an injunction within hours blocking implementation.
The legislation came as the IDF says it lacks at least 12,000 soldiers and as about 72,000 eligible Haredi men remain unenlisted, turning a long-running exemption dispute into a wartime flashpoint.
Benjamin Netanyahu pushed the bill through in the Knesset’s final days before an October 27 election to keep ultra-Orthodox allies in his bloc, even as opposition lawmakers jeered him and he skipped the vote.
The package also advanced coalition priorities beyond conscription, including curbs on the attorney general, a broadcasting overhaul, expanded gender-segregated academic programs, and 2.4 billion shekels in West Bank settlement funding.
Public resistance is broad: a Channel 12 survey found 66% oppose the Torah-study Basic Law and 61% want the next government to exclude ultra-Orthodox parties, making the court fight and draft issue central election themes.
Can Israel's military maintain unity when a new law exempts tens of thousands from service?
As Israel’s court and government clash over new laws, is the nation on the brink of a constitutional crisis?
With 'ethnic cleansing' claims, what international action could halt Israel's rapid West Bank expansion?
July 2026 Haredi Conscription Law in Israel: Legal Showdown, Political Fallout, and the Future of Military Service
Overview
In July 2026, Israel's Knesset passed a controversial law temporarily shielding ultra-Orthodox men from military conscription, granting them immunity from arrest and halting most Haredi enlistment for several months. This move, part of a broader effort to meet Haredi demands, sparked immediate backlash. Just one day later, Israel's top court issued a temporary injunction, freezing the law and demanding the state justify its legality. This rapid sequence of legislative action and judicial intervention plunged the country into legal and political uncertainty, leaving the future of Haredi enlistment unresolved and setting the stage for a major legal and political battle.