Defense Minister Israel Katz asked the chair of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee on Sunday morning to schedule a debate on legislation granting immunity from arrest to yeshiva students who do not enlist, according to N12 reporter Daphna Liel. The request signals a shift by Katz, who previously blocked a similar bill.
Defense Minister Israel Katz asked the chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee on Sunday morning to schedule a debate on legislation that would grant immunity from arrest to yeshiva students who do not enlist, as reported by N12's Daphna Liel. The request marks a shift by Katz, who according to coalition sources as recently as Wednesday had been blocking a similar bill to freeze arrests of Haredi draft evaders.
The move follows a weekend push by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who said Saturday evening that arrests and imprisonment deter Haredi enlistment and suggested a temporary pause in enforcement. Earlier on Sunday, Katz had already joined the government secretary in urging a freeze on arrests, as The Zioneer reported at 09:46 Jerusalem. The committee chair's response and a potential timeline for the debate remain unconfirmed.
2 developments
- StrongIsraeli government secretary backs freeze on yeshiva student arrests, citing deterrence
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz to sit for rare live TV interview tonight
- DevelopingCoalition sources: Defense Minister Katz blocking bill to freeze arrests of Haredi draft evaders
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz votes for MK Gotliv's immunity, despite Shin Bet chief's warning
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake