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Israel Katz Calls Urgent Knesset Vote on Ultra-Orthodox Draft Freeze

6/29/2026

Center

Katz Urges Freeze

Defense Minister Israel Katz pressed the Knesset Defense Committee to hold an urgent meeting on the draft-evader arrest freeze.
A 90-day suspension of arrests of ultra-Orthodox men evading military service was proposed and is under Knesset committee review.
It links a Law amendment recognizing Torah study, backed by Shas and United Torah Judaism.
Opposition lawmakers Meirav Cohen and Dan Illouz said the bill rewards evasion and damages trust.

Left

Cabinet Freezes

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs warned that arrests of Haredi yeshiva students could trigger a civil war with the ultra-Orthodox community.
The Israeli cabinet will impose a three-month freeze on arrests of verified yeshiva students while keeping financial sanctions for draft-evaders.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed arrests deter enlistment, though no such arrests have been reported.
Rabbi Yonatan Reiss said arrests ignore frameworks letting willing Haredi men serve without abandoning religion.

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Katz Urges Freeze

Defense Minister Israel Katz pressed the Knesset Defense Committee to hold an urgent meeting on the draft-evader arrest freeze.
A 90-day suspension of arrests of ultra-Orthodox men evading military service was proposed and is under Knesset committee review.
It links a Law amendment recognizing Torah study, backed by Shas and United Torah Judaism.
Opposition lawmakers Meirav Cohen and Dan Illouz said the bill rewards evasion and damages trust.

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