Ultra-Orthodox draft

'We do whatever they say': Yeshiva students defer to rabbis over response to IDF draft enforcement

When a group of young men was asked whether some yeshiva students wanted to enlist but refrained because their rabbis forbade it, several agreed, with one answering, “of course.”

Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews attend an election rally organized by the United Torah Judaism party in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, central Israel, two days ahead of Israel’s general elections, October 25, 2026.
Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public party, party members and supporters attend the launch of the party’s election campaign ahead of the upcoming Israeli general elections in Beit Shemesh, August 23, 2026.

'We will get them': Haredi Public Party leader vows to help fill IDF manpower shortage

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men at the Tel Hashomer IDF base, August 30, 2026.

Israel's attorney-general urges High Court to cut benefits for 110,000 draft evaders

Members of the Chabad community at Ben-Gurion Airport, October 20, 2026.

IDF detains 42 Chabad Hassidic draft evaders arriving from New York at Ben-Gurion Airport


The hidden economic danger in the Basic Law on Torah Study

Another significant dimension has received almost no attention: the possibility that the law will alter Israel’s national priorities and damage the growth engines on which the Israeli economy depends

MKS ATTEND a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on June 16, 2026.

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

Kallner, a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, told 103FM that he does not think arresting yeshiva students is 'the right way.'

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.

WATCH: Haredi protesters block entrance to IDF's Central Command HQ in Jerusalem

The haredim, who were protesting against mandatory conscription for ultra-Orthodox men, were seen blocking part of the gate, screaming at soldiers, and not letting them through.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters demonstrate against the arrest of ultra orthodox jewish men who took part in a protest outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg and were later handed over to the military police, outside the Abu Kabir detention facility, June 10, 2026. Ilustrative.

WATCH: Haredi IDF soldiers graduate Hashmonaim Brigade's first officer training course

The course maintained full IDF standards, including all the instruction given to cadets at the IDF's Officer's School (Bahad 1), and allowed the graduates to maintain their haredi lifestyle.

Soldiers graduate from the Hashmonaim Brigade, July 1, 2026.

Israeli military nearing breaking point without more manpower, IDF warns Knesset committee

The reported gap in platoon commanders comes as the military continues to warn of broader manpower shortages across combat formations.

IDF troops operating in the Wadi Saluki area of southern Lebanon.

Son of rabbi who verbally attacked IDF chief says father receives no state funding whatsoever

This comes after Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi was heard cursing Zamir and calling him “accursed” and “may his name be erased.”

ULTRA-ORTHODOX Jewish men attend a rally against the imprisonment of yeshiva students who failed to comply with military recruitment orders, in Bnei Brak, June 29, 2026.

Simchi vows to push unity gov't, enlistment in new political alliance with Gantz

Simchi also rejected claims that a vote for his party would effectively amount to a vote for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Brig. Gen. (Res) Dedi Simchi and former Minister Yizhar Shai attend a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, in the Israeli parliament on January 21, 2025.

Ultra-Orthodox party paralyzes Knesset votes to force through military draft exemptions

The most recent proposal advanced is a bill that would halt the arrests of haredi draft evaders, which is set to be debated on Tuesday in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Protesters supporting the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the Israeli military block a road in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, central Israel, in protest against the continued road blockades by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators following the arrest of draft evaders, June 26, 2026.

Haredi protesters successfully halt draft dodger arrest near Jerusalem, police leave scene - report

Additional footage shared by KAN shows a police officer speaking with protesters, saying that "I didn't even bring any patrol cars, I came alone."

Haredi protests begin across Israel, June 24, 2026.

Defense Ministry backs 90-freeze on haredi draft evader arrests as Israel faces coalition crisis

MKs Gafni and Deri stated that the prime minister had “made it clear at the meeting that he is committed to approving the laws and will work to advance them quickly.”

United Torah Judaism leader MK Yitzhak Goldknopf at Knesset House Committee debating Basic Law: Torah Study, Sunday June 28, 2026.