The Israeli Knesset approved a bill temporarily halting the arrest of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews who evade compulsory military service. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived at the parliament before the vote, was met with protests from opposition lawmakers chanting 'shame'.
According to Haaretz newspaper, Netanyahu was targeted by the opposition when he entered the plenum to vote in favor of the bill. Following the backlash, he was forced to leave the parliament without casting his vote.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, despite objections from the Israeli Attorney General's Office and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the bill passed its second and third readings with 58 votes in favor and 54 against. From the ruling coalition, Likud's Yuli Edelstein and Dan Iluz, along with Moshe Solomon of the Religious Zionism party, voted against the law.
The bill freezes the arrest, investigation, and sanctioning of yeshiva (Torah school) students subject to military conscription until November 30. Due to the elections scheduled for October 27, this period will be extended into the first three months of the next term. Thus, Haredim will be shielded from arrest for at least six months.
Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had previously stated in a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu that he opposed the bill preventing the detention of Haredi draft evaders.