Haredi

High Court presses government over failure to enforce haredi draft ruling, reserves decision

The case centers on the government’s failure to carry out the November 2025 ruling, which held that the state must formulate an effective enforcement policy against haredi draft evasion.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protester argues with a police officer outside the Jerusalem IDF recruitment center, April 12, 2026.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir visits Central Command soldiers on March 17, 2026.

IDF chief rejects coalition recruitment law amid personnel crisis

The IDF has acknowledged a critical shortage of 9,000 combat soldiers on the ground and warned that the deficit could rise to 17,000 by the end of the year unless urgent legislation is passed.

|ByAVI ASHKENAZI , JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators holding a sign reading "Zionism uses Jews as human shields" outside of the IDF's recruitment offices in Jerusalem, April 12, 2026.

Police arrest 19 in ultra-Orthodox protests against IDF draft across Israel

Protesters attempted to block vehicles while lying in the road, addressing officers deployed at Tel Hashomer with "hateful chants." 

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, HODAYA RAN
An Israeli emergency worker wipes the tears off a child's face at an impact site, after Iran launched missiles towards Israel, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Bnei Brak, Israel April 1, 2026.

Rabbis hold key to safety in Israel's haredi society - opinion

In haredi society, religious authority matters more than warnings when it comes to missile safety.

|ByELIYAHU BERKOVITS

Netanyahu could call early elections as wartime success influences political strategy - interview

The timing of the elections will “heavily depend” on the results of the war and can cause the date to be moved up, said Prof. Gideon Rahat, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute.

MARCH 18, 2026ByKESHET NEEV
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the nation amid Israeli strike on Iranian regime targets on March 7, 2026.

Female IDF soldiers barred from entering base on religious grounds - report

The soldiers, some seven officers and reservists, all in uniform, were met by commanders from the ultra-Orthodox Netzach Yehuda battalion who forbade them from entering.

MARCH 12, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
FEMALE IDF field intelligence collection soldiers S, D, and V in the Syrian buffer zone.

WATCH: IRGC-linked media shares propaganda video using Lego, blaming Israel-US for Minab school

Iran’s Revayat-e Fath institute's propaganda video uses Lego models to blame Israel and the US for the Minab strike and shows "retaliatory" attacks on Cyprus, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Iraq.

MARCH 10, 2026ByJAMES GENN
IRGC propaganda showing officers planning missile launches towards Tel Aviv, created using Lego, March 10, 2026.

High Court: State’s haredi draft enforcement update ‘does not satisfy’ amid Iran war tensions

“In these pressing times, today’s hearing was canceled,” the court wrote. “But the need to enforce the obligation of military enlistment is steadily increasing.” 

MARCH 2, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN
A COURT hearing on the government’s draft of ultra-Orthodox Jews into the Israeli military at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 29, 2025.

Grapevine: Shira Banki's Way

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

FEBRUARY 28, 2026ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
A person takes a photo of a memorial sign showing the image of Shira Banki, an Israeli teenager who was stabbed during the 2015 Jerusalem Pride Parade, during the 21st annual Jerusalem Pride Parade in Jerusalem on June 1, 2023.

Zamir appoints two new Brig.-Gens., including IDF's first haredi affairs advisor

Emuna will directly coordinate with all branches and directorates in the IDF to better advance and expand the service of haredi soldiers.

FEBRUARY 25, 2026BySHIR PERETS
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir held an appointment ceremony for two newly promoted Brigadier-Generals: Avinoam Emunah (L), Shai Siman-Tov, February 24, 2026.

A-G to High Court: Gov’t has not adopted economic sanctions plan against haredi draft dodgers

The Attorney-General warned the High Court that the government failed to plan for revoking benefits from Haredi draft evaders, despite data showing financial sanctions increased enlistment rates.

FEBRUARY 24, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN
Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police outside the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, central Israel, April 28, 2025

Netanyahu’s coalition threatens Jewish unity with law banning pluralistic Kotel prayers - opinion

Under the bill, anyone who publicly leads or engages in prayer contrary to the Rabbinate’s directive would face up to seven years in jail.

FEBRUARY 24, 2026ByRABBI JACOB BLUMENTHAL/JTA, RABBI RICK JACOBS/JTA
A Jewish woman covered in a white prayer shawl prays in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, during the Jewish holiday of Passover, April 2, 2018

Thousands of kosher phone lines blocked, affecting half a million haredim - report

"The authority to determine the blocking of lines known as "Kosher Lines" is vested in the Rabbinical Committee for Communications Affairs," Rami Levy Communications stated.

FEBRUARY 23, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A haredi man speaking on his kosher phone in Jerusalem on February 23, 2026.

Netanyahu's political opposition must present clear policies - opinion

Israel’s opposition unites against Netanyahu, but lacks policies to present a clear alternative government.

FEBRUARY 22, 2026BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF
Benjamin Netanyahu