Israeli draft

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has a duty to warn the government about draft evasion - editorial

Active-duty generals, as a rule, should stay out of politics, but every rule has its exception.

Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Eyal Zamir, arrives to attend a wreath laying ceremony at Warsaw Ghetto Square at Yad Vashem on April 14, 2026 in Jerusalem, Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a Knesset vote on a bill to freeze arrests of haredi draft evaders, in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026

Knesset votes to freeze arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders amid IDF manpower crisis

A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protester argues with a police officer outside the Jerusalem IDF recruitment center, April 12, 2026.

Almost half of Israelis support tougher sanctions, pressure to promote haredi conscription - poll

An Israeli soldier guard as young men gathered during a demonstration by Ultra-Orthodox Jews against Israel's military draft on June 17, 2026 outside the Beit Lid military base in Kfar Yona, Israel. The conscription of young ultra-Orthodox men into the military, from which they were long exempt.

Likud MK Kallner opposes criminal arrests for haredi draft evaders, backs economic sanctions


Lapid, Eisenkot, and Bennett back reservists at Jerusalem draft law protest

"I hope that Knesset receives the message to promote a draft law and not a [draft] evasion law," Eisenkot said.

Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot embrace at draft law protests in Jerusalem on January 15, 2026.

IDF cancels ultra-Orthodox Hashmonaim Brigade event for parents in Bnei Brak after haredi riot

The event was interrupted by a group of several dozen haredi extremists associated with the Jerusalem faction, who tried to break into the compound where the event was being held.

HAREDIM SCUFFLE with police outside Jerusalem’s IDF Recruitment Center, Nov. 12.

Katz rejects appt of Col. (res.) Gitelman, claims he promoted draft dodging

"Those who preach or encourage refusal will not serve in the IDF and will not be promoted to any position," Katz said.  

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends the funeral of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, who's body had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza since 2014 and released a few days ago, at the Kfar Saba military cemetery. November 11, 2025.

Bismuth's haredi draft bill advances in heated Knesset panel, lawmakers call it 'not nearly enough'

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. 

Protests against haredi draft begins in Jerusalem, October 30, 2025.

'A movement takes time': How one rabbi is slowly changing the haredi draft debate

Behind protests and politics, a quiet revolution is reshaping ultra-Orthodox attitudes toward military service.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews carry a banner in Hebrew that reads, “to prison and not the army,” during a “million man” protest against military conscription, in Jerusalem October 30, 2025.

Haredi conscription debate heats up with protest and bill outline reveal

'It's not a conscription law, it’s a full-blown law for draft evasion. If this draft is advanced, not a single haredi will enlist,' said Lapid

 Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police during a protest against IDF conscription, near Bnei Brak, March 2, 2025

Equal burden on trial: What's at stake at the High Court's crucial haredi draft hearing - explainer

As war staggers on, the army faces a critical shortage, justices will weigh whether the State’s refusal to arrest draft evaders undermines both law and, principle of shared service.

Haredi protesters demonstrating against the IDF draft law blocking roads, September 18, 2025.

Haredi protesters block Jerusalem highway in protest against draft-dodger arrest orders

The police explained that rioters began to disrupt the order by blocking the traffic lanes near the String Bridge at the city's entrance.

Police declared the haredi protests illegal.

Tensions with ultra-Orthodox are second most divisive conflict in Israeli society, poll finds

The poll also shows how 83% of Israeli Jews support ensuring freedom of religion, namely, the freedom for both secular and religious citizens to live according to their own worldview. 

 An illustrative image of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Israeli Jews near a sign for an IDF recruiting office.

Ultra-Orthodox MK Goldknopf asks Netanyahu to finance Chabad's trip to New York

This comes after the Breslov hassidim received a framework that allows for NIS 10 million to be used in their Rosh Hashanah pilgrimages to Uman, Ukraine.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf seen in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023