Seventy local council heads across Israel signed a letter Wednesday protesting the coalition law that would halt arrests of Haredi yeshiva students evading military service. The signatories include prominent Likud mayors Chaim Bibas and Shai Hajaj, according to reports. The letter calls the legislation 'a severe blow to national resilience and social cohesion.'
The bill to freeze arrests of Haredi draft evaders was passed by the Knesset on Tuesday and immediately blocked by an interim High Court of Justice order.
On Wednesday, 70 local council heads, including mayors from the ruling Likud party, published a joint letter opposing the legislation. The signatories, organized by Idan Greenbaum of the Emek HaYarden Regional Council, warned the law 'is a severe blow to national resilience and social cohesion.'
The letter reflects growing public dissent against the coalition's handling of the controversial draft exemption issue, which has spurred repeated protests and legal battles. The law, which had been fast-tracked through the Knesset, faces continued opposition from security officials, opposition parties, and now local government leaders.
- StrongYesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu petition High Court against Haredi draft-evader arrest exemption bill
- DevelopingCoalition Haredi supporters waver on arrest bill after Chief of Staff letter, report says
- DevelopingOpposition party leaders issue joint call against bill to freeze draft-evader arrests
- StrongHigh Court blocks law freezing arrest of Haredi draft evaders; lawyer calls decision 'shocking'
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- Internal intake