Boaz Bismuth

The continued discussions on the bill come after the chairperson of the committee, MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud), laid out his updated version of the legislation to the panel on Monday. 

“The IDF needs, more than ever, additional soldiers to carry the heavy burden of defending the state,” the letter said, arguing that mandatory service reflects Israel’s “shared destiny.”

RZP's Ofir Sofer to oppose draft legislation, defying faction head Bezalel Smotrich • Bismuth brings new haredi draft bill outline to Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee

An Israel Democracy Institute expert warns that MK Boaz Bismuth’s haredi draft offers no real enforcement and will not improve enlistment rates.

Despite October 7, despite the near-existential threat situation Israel finds itself in across seven fronts, haredi leaders remain adamant that “yeshiva boys” cannot be drafted in any minimal way.

"The IDF needs an additional thousand fighters," he continued. "The proposed law, as is, does not advance this goal; it enables dodging, and endangers the future of the state."

The new haredi draft bill softens personal sanctions, allowing draft evaders to regularize their status around age 26. This flexibility draws sharp criticism from the opposition.

The revised bill is described by its drafters as a “balanced” response - but its core architecture offers the haredi sector a wide window of relief.

UTJ and Shas denounce violent haredi extremists as tensions rise over a contentious IDF draft bill, prompting political backlash and stalled legislation.

The first discussion to present the outline of the newly updated bill had been slated for Monday.