{"id":2629624,"date":"2026-07-14T13:13:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T17:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/knesset-passes-bill-banning-arrest-of-ultra-orthodox-jews-who-refuse-to-serve\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T13:17:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T17:17:37","slug":"knesset-passes-bill-banning-arrest-of-ultra-orthodox-jews-who-refuse-to-serve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/knesset-passes-bill-banning-arrest-of-ultra-orthodox-jews-who-refuse-to-serve\/","title":{"rendered":"Knesset passes bill banning arrest of ultra-orthodox Jews who refuse to serve"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fknesset-passes-bill-banning-arrest-of-ultra-orthodox-jews-who-refuse-to-serve%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629624&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ultra-Orthodox Israelis, primarily ultra-orthodox Jews (Haredi), have been temporarily protected from arrest after the Knesset approved a bill that bans their detention for refusing mandatory military service. Thousands of Haredi men refuse conscription on religious grounds, leading to arrests wich are now suspended until at least November 30, with expectations of further extensions due to upcoming elections. The legislation was passed after pressure from the United Torah Judaism party, despite notable opposition from military leadership, including Chief of Staff Lt. gen. Eyal Zamir, who expressed concern that the bill undermines the IDF\u2019s needs and could cause societal divisions. Critics, including the Movement for Quality Government, argue the law institutionalizes inequality by granting draft exemptions selectively, and have petitioned the High Court to overturn it on constitutional grounds. Netanyahu did not participate in the vote, and some coalition members opposed the bill, leading to protests and accusations of discrimination. The law reflects ongoing tensions over military service obligations among Israel\u2019s diverse population, which includes around 1.5 million ultra-orthodox Jews, representing about 15% of the country\u2019s population, with rapid growth rates.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultra-orthodox Israelis who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4620816\/ultra-orthodox-jews-political-football-netanyahu-conscription-protests\/\">refuse to participate in mandatory military service<\/a> have been temporarily protected after the Knesset passed a bill banning their arrest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tens of thousands of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/judaism\/\">ultra-orthodox Jews<\/a>, sometimes called Haredi, have refused conscription into the Israeli militia on religious grounds. Police have arrested many of these objectors, but they will temporarily be protected from the law. The bill passed the parliament with a vote of 58-54.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4647045\/trump-countries-reimburse-us-iran-war\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump demands world reimburse US for Iran war: \u2018We\u2019re protecting a very rich portion\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4646881\/us-iran-strikes-third-consecutive-night\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>US strikes Iran for third consecutive night as war escalates<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4646238\/houthis-accuse-saudi-arabia-striking-yemen-airport\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of striking Yemen\u2019s international airport<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It comes despite massive opposition from Israel military leadership, with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/idf-chief-raps-inconceivable-bill-freezing-ultra-orthodox-enlistment\/\">writing in a letter<\/a> to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday that the bill is \u201cclearly and unequivocally inconsistent with the IDF\u2019s needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and children pray on the roadside between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv during a protest against military conscription, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26175593516606.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and children pray on the roadside between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv during a protest against military conscription, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is inconceivable that the military system under my command, which demands unprecedented sacrifice from its personnel, would be party to granting mass exemptions from prosecution,\u201d Zamir said. \u201cSuch a move would create a deep rift with the serving force, which has borne the burden of the fighting for two and a half years, and would increase inequality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill protects Haredi draft dodgers until at least Nov. 30 and suspends the criminal prosecution against those already detained by law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legislation is expected to be prolonged even further because of the upcoming elections in Israel, which automatically extend temporary legislation by approximately four months.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was passed by the governing coalition after United Torah Judaism party Chairman Moshe Gafni\u00a0tabled the bill and refused to back any other coalition legislation until the exemptions were passed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Netanyahu was present for part of the debate but did not stay for the vote. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4641908\/israel-katz-rebuke-trump-idf-withdraw-lebanon-hezbollah\/\">Defense Minister Israel Katz<\/a> voted in favor of the bill. Both ministers\u2019 appearances at the heated debate of the bill prompted outcries of \u201cShame!\u201d from the opposition. Several members of Likud, Netanyahu\u2019s party, defected and voted against the bill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a nonprofit organization, has already filed a complaint to the High Court of Israel demanding that the legislation be overturned on constitutional grounds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA law that grants draft dodgers immunity from arrest is not the modest, temporary emergency measure it is being portrayed as,\u201d the organization said in its petition. \u201cRather, it is an attempt to enshrine in legislation a reality in which the obligation to serve applies only to part of the public \u2014 while combat soldiers and reservists continue to shoulder the burden for a third consecutive year.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against military recruitment and call for the release of detained draft resisters outside a military prison near Kfar Yona, Israel, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ariel Schalit)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26168513272286-1.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against military recruitment and call for the release of detained draft resisters outside a military prison near Kfar Yona, Israel, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ariel Schalit)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It continued: \u201cWe have now petitioned the High Court of Justice to stop this discriminatory legislation, and we will not stop until one law applies equally to everyone. The time has come for genuine equality in bearing the burden.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4645372\/netanyahu-ro-khanna-west-bank-settlers\/\">NETANYAHU BLAMES \u2018JUVENILE DELINQUENTS\u2019 FOR BLOCKING KHANNA ON WEST BANK VISIT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4639003\/netanyahu-cabinet-high-court-judicial-mafia-dictators\/\">High Court<\/a> previously ruled in 2024 that the government lacked a constitutional basis for the continued exemption of Haredim from military service, finding that conscription cannot be treated differently toward the various segments of Israeli society.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Porush has warned that any decision by the High Court to overturn the law would have \u201cno legal validity,\u201d threatening that if the military, police, and courts do not abide by the bill, it \u201cwill lead to civil rebellion on a scale never before seen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are approximately 1.5 million ultra-orthodox Jews living in Israel. They make up approximately 15% of the population, and their explosive birth rates make them one of the fastest-growing ethnic populations in the world.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ultra-Orthodox Israelis avoiding military service are temporarily protected after Knesset passes arrest ban<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2629625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26175593516606.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[82704,45251,82705,37350],"class_list":["post-2629624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-jewish-service","tag-knesset","tag-legal-bill","tag-ultra-orthodox"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26175593516606.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629624"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629627,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629624\/revisions\/2629627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}