Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reversed his earlier opposition to the bill exempting Haredi draft evaders from arrest, following overnight negotiations with Haredi parties, N12 reports. In exchange, the coalition will advance two bills: one easing establishment of local councils in the Negev, and another erasing credit records.
In a late-night reversal, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich dropped his opposition to the Haredi exemption-from-arrest bill, according to N12 political reporter Dafna Liel. The minister had previously told coalition partners he would not back the legislation, which would halt arrests of Haredi draft evaders. After hours of negotiations with Haredi party leaders, Smotrich agreed to support the bill in exchange for advancing two other pieces of legislation: a bill by Minister Orit Strock to streamline the creation of local councils in the Negev, and a credit-data bill that erases past credit records. The deal underscores the coalition's dependence on Haredi support for its legislative agenda, and the ongoing tensions around the military-draft exemption for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. The Zioneer previously reported on Smotrich's opposition to a broader Haredi Basic Law on Torah study, and on the coalition's broader efforts to secure immunity from arrest for draft evaders. The report is based on a single source; details on the exact timing of the votes remain unconfirmed.
2 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu-Haredi coalition deal deepens: immunity from arrest for draft evaders
- DevelopingSmotrich backs Lebanon deal, in apparent shift
- DevelopingHaredi official accuses Smotrich of using Finance Ministry opinions to block Torah study law
- DevelopingNetanyahu and Smotrich urge Haredi hesder yeshivas to back controversial laws for budgets
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