Israeli Knesset panel discusses military conscription bill amid dispute within ruling coalition

JERUSALEM/ ISTANBUL

The Israeli Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee resumed discussions on a new military conscription bill on Monday, amid growing disputes within the ruling coalition.

According to the public broadcaster KAN, the committee resumed discussions on a draft law to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredi) from military service.

The opposition accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to advance the bill to satisfy demands by the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, both of which left the coalition earlier this year but are expected to rejoin once such a law passes.

KAN quoted Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer of the Religious Zionism Party as saying that he would vote against the bill, calling it “shameful.”

Sofer, whose party is headed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, said he would “vote against this law, even if it means the prime minister will fire me.”

According to KAN, Knesset members Michal Waldiger and Moshe Solomon from the Religious Zionism Party joined Sofer’s position, stressing that they will not support the bill unless significant amendments are made.

Discussions inside the committee are expected to continue in the coming days amid growing pressure to reach a version that gains coalition consensus.

Unless Netanyahu can secure enough votes for the bill, he is unlikely to bring it to a vote.

Two weeks ago, Israel’s Supreme Court required the government to put in place an “effective enforcement policy” against Haredi draft evasion within 45 days, including broad criminal, economic, and civil measures.

Military service in Israel is compulsory for all men and women aged 18.

Haredi, who make up about 13% of Israel’s population of 10 million, claim military service threatens their religious identity and community structure, as they dedicate their lives to Torah study. Prominent rabbis have urged followers to reject the draft and “tear up enlistment orders.”

For decades, most ultra-Orthodox men avoided service through repeated deferments for religious study until reaching the exemption age, currently set at 26.