Opposition leader Yair Lapid, Yashar party leader and ex-IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, and former prime minister Naftali Bennett joined IDF reservists at Thursday's draft law protest, Israeli media reported.
"The people marching here with me have done more than 400 days of reserve duty," Lapid told Israeli media, "and in Knesset, they are preparing to protest. We will not let this happen."
"We will not give up on them," Lapid continued, "this law will not pass. Yesh Atid will make sure it does not pass."
Former IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot: 'I hope Knesset receives the message'
Eisenkot also spoke to Israeli media, saying, "I came to support the initiative to strengthen the IDF at a complex and difficult time...the crowd here is a testament to the power of unity...because this is the most diverse group of people from all parts of Israeli society."
"I hope that Knesset receives the message to promote a draft law and not a [draft] evasion law," Eisenkot added.
MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) was also seen attending the protest. Edelstein served as the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee until he was ousted in July 2025 after a fallout with haredi politicians that led to the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties exiting the government.
The fallout stemmed from the terms in a bill aimed at regulating haredi service in the IDF. Ultra-Orthodox politicians opposed Edelstein’s attempts to insert enforcement and oversight mechanisms to ensure that haredim who receive an exemption from IDF service were actually studying in yeshiva.
The protest, unlike recent haredi anti-draft protests, was organized in favor of a stricter draft law that enlists haredi Israelis alongside all other Israeli citizens.