Ultra-Orthodox party paralyzes Knesset votes to force through military draft exemptions
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- Israel's ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism (UTJ) is boycotting Knesset votes, disrupting the legislative agenda.
- The boycott aims to pressure the coalition to advance legislation favorable to draft evaders, including halting arrests.
- Critics argue these bills encourage draft evasion amid a severe IDF manpower crisis and seek to enshrine Torah study in Basic Law.
The ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism (UTJ) has announced a boycott of coalition voting in the Knesset, significantly disrupting the legislative agenda. This move is intended to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition to expedite the advancement of legislation promised to the Haredi parties.
The core of the dispute involves several bills that critics argue would benefit Haredi draft evaders by granting them state benefits and halting enforcement actions. The most recent proposal, set for debate in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, seeks to temporarily halt the arrests of Haredi draft evaders. The bill stipulates that for 90 days from its commencement, no arrest, investigation, or enforcement proceedings will be taken for failure to serve in the military.
United Torah Judaism informed the coalition that its members will not participate in today's votes on legislation in the Knesset plenum, due to the failure to complete the advancement of the bills that had been agreed upon.
UTJ stated that its members will not participate in Knesset votes due to the "failure to complete the advancement of the bills that had been agreed upon." This boycott is expected to lead to the Knesset concluding its proceedings earlier than planned. The party's actions come amid a severe manpower crisis within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
An additional bill fast-tracked by the coalition seeks to enshrine Torah study in the country's Basic Law. This legislation, which passed its preliminary reading, is part of a broader proposal by Haredi parties that critics contend encourages draft evasion by allowing yeshiva students who do not serve to continue receiving state benefits. The bill is expected to proceed to a first-reading plenum vote soon. Israel, lacking a formal constitution, relies on Basic Laws for its legal framework.
As a result, the Knesset plenum is also expected today to conclude its proceedings earlier than planned.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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