14.07.2026 19:11
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu left the parliament without voting after being protested with "shame" chants when he arrived for the bill freezing the arrest of draft-dodging Ultra-Orthodox Jews. Despite objections from Chief of Staff Zamir, the controversial law passed by the parliament will freeze the arrest and punishment of Haredi youths for at least six months.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was protested in the Israeli Parliament, where he came to vote in favor of a bill freezing the arrest of Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews who evade military service.
HALL ECHOES WITH "SHAME" SLOGANS
According to a report by Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Netanyahu, who came to parliament to vote, became the target of opposition lawmakers.
After political pressure from Haredim who refuse mandatory military service, one of the laws brought to parliament was the controversial bill proposing to freeze the arrest of Haredi draft dodgers. As Netanyahu entered the Israeli Parliament's plenary session to vote in favor, opposition lawmakers reacted with shouts of "shame."
Under the backlash, Netanyahu was forced to leave the Israeli Parliament without participating in the vote.
BILL APPROVED
Despite objections from the Israeli Attorney General's Office and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the Israeli Parliament convened to vote on the controversial bill in its second and third readings.
According to a report by Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the bill was approved in the second and third readings in the Israeli Parliament with 58 "yes" votes against 54 "no" votes.
From the ruling bloc, Likud's Yuli Edelstein and Dan Iluz, and Religious Zionism's Moshe Solomon voted against the law.
WILL PREVENT THE ARREST OF HAREDIM FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS
The bill proposes freezing the arrest, investigation, and enforcement of sanctions against Yeshiva (Torah school) students subject to military service until November 30. Since elections in Israel are scheduled for October 27, the bill will extend into the first 3 months of the next term, thereby preventing the arrest of Haredim for at least 6 months.
CHIEF OF STAFF HAD OBJECTED
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had objected to the bill preventing the detention of Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews who evade military service.
Zamir stated his opposition to the bill freezing the detention of Haredi draft dodgers in a letter sent to Prime Minister Netanyahu.