Legal Adviser: Knesset Panel Should Pass Haredi Conscription Bill as Temporary Fix

Legal Adviser Recommends Temporary Haredi Conscription Law

In the face of growing tensions surrounding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee’s legal adviser has called for the passage of an interim law to address the issue. The recommendation came during a series of debates on the matter, with the aim of creating a framework that could help meet the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) recruitment needs.

Miri Frenkel Shor, the legal adviser, emphasized that the proposed law should be temporary rather than permanent. She suggested that if the goals set by the IDF are not met, the law should expire. This approach aims to provide flexibility while ensuring that the military can still meet its critical personnel requirements.

Recruitment Challenges

Brig. Gen. Shay Tayeb, head of the IDF Personnel Directorate’s Planning and Personnel Management Division, highlighted the current challenges in recruiting Haredi men. Despite a recent increase in enlistment, the number of Haredi recruits over the past year was only 2,940, far below the IDF's target. An average of around 1,800 Haredim enlist annually, but there are approximately 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged between 18 and 24 who are eligible for military service yet have not enlisted.

The IDF is urgently seeking 12,000 recruits due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza and other military demands. However, the rate of conscription has not improved significantly despite the issuance of tens of thousands of conscription orders.

Court Ruling and Legislative Efforts

Last year, the High Court ruled that the longstanding exemptions for yeshiva students had no legal basis. Since then, the IDF has sent out numerous conscription orders, but a notable increase in enlistment has not occurred. Tayeb noted that the conscription rate in relation to the number of orders sent is lower than it was previously.

Earlier this week, i24 News released a clip featuring Boaz Bismuth, a Likud lawmaker, discussing the issue with a senior Haredi rabbi. Bismuth suggested that those studying full-time in yeshivas should continue their studies, while others should be conscripted. He argued that this policy would serve as an "insurance" for the future of Judaism.

Political Dynamics and Compromise

Chili Tropper, a Blue and White-National Unity MK, criticized the practice of registering individuals as full-time students, stating that it hinders the achievement of enlistment targets. Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs warned against immediate sanctions, suggesting they would be more effective if implemented after a year.

Bismuth, who took over the committee in July, has started from scratch on advancing conscription legislation, drawing criticism from opposition lawmakers and former committee chairman Yuli Edelstein, whose work on the issue has been abandoned.

According to reports, Bismuth has met with Frenkel Shor and Shas lawmakers ahead of the committee meeting and plans to meet with United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf to reach an agreement on the bill’s text.

Impact of Sanctions and Travel Restrictions

The June compromise aimed to delay some sanctions and reset the status of all yeshiva students, which would have allowed many draft evaders to avoid arrest. However, the bill presented by Edelstein was harsher, calling for immediate sanctions, including the revocation of drivers' licenses and a ban on international travel.

A study by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 48% of Haredim of conscription age have traveled abroad, with the percentage rising to 71% among those who do not study in yeshivas. The study noted that travel could impact matchmaking among multinational Hasidic sects and that restricting travel could significantly affect the community.

As the debate continues, the Knesset committee faces the challenge of balancing national security needs with the unique cultural and religious practices of the Haredi community. The outcome of these discussions will likely shape the future of conscription policies in Israel.