The Council of Torah Sages of Shas sent a letter to the High Court of Justice on Tuesday regarding the 'deserters law,' asserting that IDF battlefield victories are achieved thanks to yeshiva students' Torah study, and that conscripting them is forbidden by Jewish law. The letter also reportedly states the council does not recognize the court's authority to rule on the matter.
The Council of Torah Sages of Shas delivered a letter to the High Court of Justice on Tuesday asserting that IDF battlefield victories are achieved thanks to the Torah study of yeshiva students, and that conscripting them is forbidden by Jewish law (halakha). The letter also rejects the court's authority to rule on the matter, according to the council's statement. This claim — that Torah study secures military victories — goes beyond the halakhic prohibition and rejection of court authority reported in earlier versions of the story.
The Zioneer reported at 16:12 Jerusalem that the council had sent a letter stating that drafting yeshiva students violates halakha and that the council does not recognize the High Court's authority to adjudicate the issue. Shortly before that, at 16:12, Shas announced it would not send a government attorney to defend the so-called 'deserters law' before the court, instead forwarding the council's letter, as N12 reported. The initial report of the letter noted the council's claim that harming Torah learners directly harms Israel's spiritual and existential security. The additional assertion linking IDF victories to Torah study emerged later in the day.
The conscription crisis has been a central fault line in Israeli politics. As The Zioneer reported on June 24, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Haredi leaders agreed to advance the Basic Law: Torah Study and a law preventing arrests of yeshiva students in exchange for moving toward elections. The Basic Law: Torah Study was passed by the Knesset on July 14, though critics called it largely declarative. The 'deserters law' has faced opposition from the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's legal advisor, who argued it creates a bypass around conscription law, as The Zioneer reported on June 29. Shas's decision not to send an attorney to defend the law reflects the party's rejection of the High Court's involvement.
The High Court has not yet responded to the council's letter. The legal status of the deserters law remains unresolved, and the coalition continues to face internal tensions over the conscription issue, with the military facing manpower shortages and the Haredi parties demanding legislative protection for yeshiva students.
3 developments
- DevelopingHigh Court rules yeshivas with draft evaders ineligible for tax benefits
- DevelopingShas submits Basic Law: Torah Study; Bennett attacks 'draft dodging on steroids'
- DevelopingState urges High Court to strip tax benefits from yeshivas housing draft dodgers — analysis reveals 430M shekel annual savings
- DevelopingHaredi journalist: Delinquent youths attack Rekhasim yeshiva, students fear police over draft status
Source and signal
- Open-source intake