Haredi news

Ultra-Orthodox party paralyzes Knesset votes to force through military draft exemptions

The most recent proposal advanced is a bill that would halt the arrests of haredi draft evaders, which is set to be debated on Tuesday in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

|ByKESHET NEEV
Protesters supporting the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the Israeli military block a road in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, central Israel, in protest against the continued road blockades by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators following the arrest of draft evaders, June 26, 2026.
A haredi man looks on as traffic builds at Hemed Interchange on Highway 1 amid ultra-Orthadox anti-draft protests, June 24, 2026.

Following hours of haredi draft protests, Israeli highways reopen to traffic

Protests cause heavy traffic on 29 major roads • Social media footage shows protesters and secular citizens in violent physical altercations • MKs Goldknopf, Malkieli attended protests

|ByALON HACHMON, AVI SOLOMON, AARON GLICK
A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) anti-draft protester holds a banner reading "Even those who do not learn in Yeshiva need to stay Jewish. It's forbidden to commit spiritual suicide in the IDF's crematoriums," during an anti-draft protest at the IDF's Jerusalem recruitment center, April 12, 2026.

Derech eretz lost - Why the proposed Basic Law betrays our sacred covenant - opinion

When this war began, there was a brief, powerful moment of unity. We believed that the existential threat would finally force a consensus: every capable citizen must contribute to the state's defense

|BySHIRA TZACHI
Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police outside the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, central Israel, April 28, 2025

A-G to High Court: Gov’t has not adopted economic sanctions plan against haredi draft dodgers

The Attorney-General warned the High Court that the government failed to plan for revoking benefits from Haredi draft evaders, despite data showing financial sanctions increased enlistment rates.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN

Knesset defense committee to resume haredi draft bill debate with classified meeting

Many haredi publications have argued that the ruling has effectively "torn apart" haredim from the rest of Israeli society.

JUNE 27, 2024ByELIAV BREUER
Yitzchak Goldknopf, Minister of Construction and Housing attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 26, 2024.

Is the NIS 70 m plan for haredi employment going to work without a draft law?

Israel's new NIS 70M plan aims to boost haredi employment and productivity through education incentives, but IDF exemptions pose challenges.

JUNE 23, 2024ByEVE YOUNG
DESPITE THE IDF’s calculation that it needs 7,000 new troops, the vote to revive an older haredi draft bill was approved by the majority of the Knesset members.

Numbers aside, haredi conscription is about the fabric of Israeli society - editorial

The haredi community must find a way to contribute more directly to the defense of the nation, whether through military service or other forms of national service.

MAY 28, 2024ByJPOST EDITORIAL
Rivlin meets with Haredi soldiers

Community engagement motivates ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to pursue higher education - study

Haredi students’ participation in volunteer programs offered by their colleges can make other members of their community more inclined to enroll in higher education, the new study reveals.

MARCH 18, 2024ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
HAREDI STUDENTS attend a class at The Jerusalem College of Technology

What do Israelis think of haredi IDF draft exemption? - survey

Nearly all (97%) of Jews identified as secular supported the complete cancelation of the exemption policy.

FEBRUARY 26, 2024ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against attempts to change government policy that grants ultra-Orthodox Jews exemptions from military conscription in Jerusalem February 26, 2024.

Thousands of haredi volunteers rally to aid Israel amidst conflict with Hamas

Chamal's activity is divided into three core divisions, each dedicated to addressing critical needs.

OCTOBER 24, 2023ByZVIKA KLEIN
Haredi volunteers have shown up in their own way to be part of the war efforts against the Hamas terror organization

Israel must heed A-G on gender segregation, interior minister says

The letter approached a societal issue in Israel brought to the public eye on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv.

OCTOBER 1, 2023ByARIELLA MARSDEN
Jews pray while activists protest against gender segregation in the public space during a public prayer on Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and the holiest of Jewish holidays, September 25, 2023.

Israel Police forge new collaborations with ultra-Orthodox communities

There are currently over 1.3 million Haredim in Israel—roughly 13% of the population—and while religious, their communities are far from crime-free.

OCTOBER 1, 2023ByAARON PORIS/THE MEDIA LINE
Haredi men dressed in traditional ultra-Orthodox garb stand behind a group of religious IDF soldiers

Gov't to transfer hundreds of millions in funds for haredi education

The plan seeks to transfer NIS 94 million for the sake of "Jewish culture", NIS 61 million to support yeshivas and their students, and NIS 32 million to boys' schools that don't teach core studies.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023ByARIELLA MARSDEN
Thousands of haredi students are studying core curriculum subjects online.

Tension in coalition mounts over last minute budget demands

Agudat Yisrael demands additional funds, threatens to oppose budget; Smotrich threatens to resign

MAY 18, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
Israeli MKs of the United Torah Judaism party Meir Porush reacts as he sits in the plenum as the Knesset approves Yesh Atid's draft bill on first reading early Tuesday morning, in the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, early July 23, 2013