Israel's Parliament Approves Laws Codifying Draft Exemptions for Ultra-Orthodox Men and Designating Torah Study as National Value

Israel's parliament approved two laws that freeze arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders and designate Jewish religious studies as a foundational state value. The measures passed during a marathon session on July 13 and 14 in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition backed the bills to retain support from religious parties before elections scheduled for October 27.

Each year roughly 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach conscription age, yet fewer than 10 percent enlist, according to a parliamentary committee. Military service remains compulsory for most Jewish men and women. The laws follow nearly three years of conflicts involving Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Netanyahu, who has served more terms than any prior Israeli prime minister, seeks Haredi backing for the vote. The Knesset will reconvene from summer recess days before the election. Military chief of staff Eyal Zamir wrote to Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz that the bills are "clearly and unequivocally inconsistent" with the military's needs.

"It is inconceivable that the military system under my command, which demands unprecedented sacrifice from its personnel, would be party to granting mass exemptions from prosecution," Zamir stated. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the law "an utter desecration of God's name" that is "spitting in the face" of Israeli soldiers.

" Exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men date to Israel's founding in 1948.

The Supreme Court has ruled the exemptions illegal. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz of the Israel Democracy Institute said Netanyahu aims to ensure Haredim negotiate only with him after the elections.