Ultra-Orthodox draft

25,000 seminary girls recruited to fund haredi yeshivas amid draft crisis - report

KAN reported that 25,000 seminary girls participated in the phone-calling campaign and raised over NIS 11 million. Each girl was given a personal fundraising goal of NIS 8,400.

 Haredim protest against the IDF draft on Highway 4 outside Bnei Brak; illustrative, April 6, 2025.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with opposition head Yair Lapid, June 17, 2025

Netanyahu seeks to raise IDF budget, Lapid conditions support on canceling ‘corrupt’ haredi funds

Jewish men in the street during Tikkun HaKlali near the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, on eve of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, September 22, 2025.

Dozens of draft dodgers arrested at border crossings ahead of Rosh Hashanah Uman pilgrimage

Amcha Yisrael party chairman Ofer Winter speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, September 2, 2026.

Ofer Winter rejects Goldknopf's demand for universal yeshiva student IDF draft exemption


Israeli military nearing breaking point without more manpower, IDF warns Knesset committee

The reported gap in platoon commanders comes as the military continues to warn of broader manpower shortages across combat formations.

IDF troops operating in the Wadi Saluki area of southern Lebanon.

Son of rabbi who verbally attacked IDF chief says father receives no state funding whatsoever

This comes after Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi was heard cursing Zamir and calling him “accursed” and “may his name be erased.”

ULTRA-ORTHODOX Jewish men attend a rally against the imprisonment of yeshiva students who failed to comply with military recruitment orders, in Bnei Brak, June 29, 2026.

Simchi vows to push unity gov't, enlistment in new political alliance with Gantz

Simchi also rejected claims that a vote for his party would effectively amount to a vote for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Brig. Gen. (Res) Dedi Simchi and former Minister Yizhar Shai attend a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, in the Israeli parliament on January 21, 2025.

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.

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.

Haredi protesters successfully halt draft dodger arrest near Jerusalem, police leave scene - report

Additional footage shared by KAN shows a police officer speaking with protesters, saying that "I didn't even bring any patrol cars, I came alone."

Haredi protests begin across Israel, June 24, 2026.

Defense Ministry backs 90-freeze on haredi draft evader arrests as Israel faces coalition crisis

MKs Gafni and Deri stated that the prime minister had “made it clear at the meeting that he is committed to approving the laws and will work to advance them quickly.”

United Torah Judaism leader MK Yitzhak Goldknopf at Knesset House Committee debating Basic Law: Torah Study, Sunday June 28, 2026.

Counterprotest begins in Bnei Brak after mass traffic disruption from ultra-orthodox draft protest

Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., hundreds of protesters are expected to arrive in Bnei Brak as part of a demonstration against inequality in the burden of service.

RESIDENTS OF Kfar Yona protest against an ultra-Orthodox demonstration opposing the arrest of Haredi draft evaders near the Beit Lid military prison in central Israel, June 24, 2026.

Marathon Knesset meetings set to rapidly advance haredi parties’ contentious Torah study bill

The bill seeks to enshrine Torah study in the country’s Basic Law as part of a proposal that critics argue encourages draft evasion and changes the status of yeshiva students who do not serve.

MKS ATTEND a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on June 16, 2026.

Police officer seen assaulting haredim at draft protest released after questioning

The officer was released without restrictions. The investigation was initiated last week, as several videos were circulated around social media showing the assaults.

Haredi protests begin across Israel, 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

A haredi man looks on as traffic builds at Hemed Interchange on Highway 1 amid ultra-Orthadox anti-draft protests, June 24, 2026.