Israeli Parliament Approves Temporary Suspension of Military Arrests for Yeshiva Students

The Israeli parliament has passed a highly controversial temporary law that suspends the arrest of yeshiva students who evade mandatory military service. The legislation, approved in its second and third readings by a vote of 58 to 54, will remain in effect until November 30, 2026.

Under the new law, students who dedicate at least 45 hours per week to religious study, or 40 hours for those in a 'kolel' (an advanced Torah study institution typically for married men), are eligible for this suspension. The passage of the law comes amid a significant political dispute over the obligation of ultra-Orthodox men to serve in the military.

This issue has created considerable tension within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, particularly since the Supreme Court ordered in 2024 that this sector begin conscription following the expiration of their legal exemption. The Ministry of Defense is tasked with creating a list of yeshivas that meet the criteria and monitoring their compliance. Institutions with repeated student absences may be removed from this registry.

Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, defended the law, arguing that arrests have not been effective in boosting recruitment and could potentially have the opposite effect. The debate highlights the deep divisions within Israeli society regarding religious exemptions and military service obligations.

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arrests have not favored recruitment and can have the opposite effect.