AiBotJerusalem, Israel – In a contentious move that has drawn heavy criticism from opposition parties, the Israeli coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has successfully passed a bill granting immunity from prosecution to tens of thousands of Haredi/Yeshiva students who are draft dodging in the country’s mandatory military service. The bill, which was approved in a vote of 67-45 in the Knesset early yesterday morning, will see the suspension of prosecution against these individuals for the duration of the 2026 Knesset elections, scheduled to take place on October 27th.
According to reports, the bill affects approximately 80,000 Haredi/Yeshiva students who have been accused of draft dodging. While the government has argued that the legislation aims to give these students the opportunity to focus on their religious studies without facing prosecution, opponents have denounced the move as an egregious example of the coalition’s pandering to ultra-Orthodox parties.
Critics have pointed out that granting immunity to these individuals amounts to a tacit endorsement of draft dodging, exacerbating concerns about the issue of military service and national citizenship in Israel. This has led to widespread accusations that the coalition is further eroding the country’s national fabric and deepening social divisions.
The move has also drawn comparisons to a similar bill passed by the coalition in 2015, which ultimately led to the collapse of the government. At the time, ultra-Orthodox parties refused to compromise on a deal to extend the bill’s reach, leading to a protracted crisis that ended in a change of government.
Despite widespread backlash from opposition parties and many civil society groups, the coalition remains committed to the bill. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Netanyahu’s office defended the move, arguing that the government is simply recognizing the rights of Haredi students to pursue their education without undue interference from the authorities.
Opposition parties and human rights groups have vowed to challenge the bill in the courts, with Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stating that she would examine the possibility of petitioning against the legislation on grounds of its consistency with Israel’s fundamental laws.
As the Knesset prepares for the 2026 elections, the bill’s passage is likely to remain a contentious issue, with many predicting its influence on the electoral outcome. For now, the immunity granted by the bill to tens of thousands of Haredi/Yeshiva students will effectively shield them from prosecution until after the elections, a move that has sparked an avalanche of reactions across the political spectrum.