The Knesset approved the bill freezing arrests of Haredi yeshiva students who evade military service, with 59 MKs voting in favor, according to i24NEWS and N12. Five coalition MKs opposed the legislation. Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Liberman filed a High Court petition against the law. Former PM Naftali Bennett called the vote 'a shameful and anti-Zionist moment,' while Liberman warned it 'will lead to a greater disaster' if not repealed.
The Knesset on Tuesday evening passed the controversial bill freezing arrests of Haredi yeshiva students who evade military service, with 59 MKs voting in favor — one more than earlier tallies, according to i24NEWS and N12. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived to vote, a departure from earlier reports of his absence, and was met with shouts of 'shame' and 'go' from opposition lawmakers. Five coalition MKs voted against the bill, up from the three reported earlier, reflecting growing internal dissent.
Initial reports at 17:46 Jerusalem indicated the bill passed with 58 votes, with Netanyahu absent and three coalition MKs — Sharren Haskel, Yuli Edelstein, and Dan Illouz — opposing. Subsequent reports confirmed Defense Minister Israel Katz voted in favor despite the IDF Chief of Staff's warning of a 'deep rift,' and Haredi MKs disclosed a personal interest, noting the law affects their relatives. By 17:14 Jerusalem, a context bulletin recorded Netanyahu being heckled as he arrived to vote. The final tally of 59 and five coalition opponents marks a shift from the earlier figures.
The legislation, valid until November 30, 2026, was advanced as part of a coalition agreement that also included a commitment to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 attacks, as The Zioneer reported on Tuesday. Opposition leaders Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu filed a petition with the High Court of Justice, arguing the law is unconstitutional. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called the vote 'a shameful and anti-Zionist moment,' and Avigdor Liberman warned that the law 'is exactly the conduct that led to the October 7 massacre' and could lead to disaster if not repealed.
The High Court has not yet ruled on the petition. The Haredi MKs' personal interest disclosure raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, but no further details have emerged.
12 developments
- DevelopingMK Moshe Gafni hails passage of law as 'important step' for Torah world
- StrongKnesset plenum approves splitting attorney general and state prosecutor bill, 59-45
- DevelopingKnesset advances bill extending statute of limitations for sex offenses
- DevelopingKnesset passes final law extending statute of limitations for sex offenses against minors to age 48
Source and signal
- Internal intake