Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz on Tuesday disputed the Israel Defense Forces’ assertion that it could soon begin unrestricted recruitment of Chareidi men. Katz outlined a proposal to gradually increase the number of Chareidi recruits, targeting 50% of those eligible by 2032.
Speaking before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Katz presented his approach to incorporating Chareidim into military service. His plan allows for many in the community to continue receiving exemptions while steadily expanding enlistment.
“I came here today to present principles for a draft that will result in the conscription of tens of thousands of Chareidim,” Katz explained.
Katz outlined two critical requirements for any legislation addressing Chareidi conscription. The first is that service must be “real and significant” while accommodating their religious way of life. The second is the preservation of the “Torah world,” the system of full-time yeshivas that forms the foundation of Chareidi society.
Outside the Knesset, demonstrators protested against the ongoing practice of exempting Chareidim from military service. Carrying Israeli flags and a stretcher, they called on the Chareidi community to “shoulder the burden” of service alongside other citizens.
Katz introduced a phased recruitment strategy, beginning with 4,800 Chareidi soldiers this year and 5,700 next year, with the aim of reaching half of the eligible cohort within seven years.
He clarified that civilian roles, such as those within Zaka, a volunteer disaster response organization, would not be included in the conscription numbers.
To ensure compliance, Katz proposed financial penalties for both individuals and institutions, including yeshivas, if the community fails to meet the annual enlistment quotas. These sanctions would apply to all those eligible for service, including yeshiva students, until they reach 26, after which military obligations would no longer apply.
“I was convinced during the discussions that there should be sanctions not only on the yeshivas but also on the students, and this is something that has not been the case to date,” Katz said.
Although Katz provided limited details about the enforcement mechanisms, he emphasized the importance of establishing basic principles. He expressed confidence that his framework could lead to “a permanent arrangement that will balance the value of the security services, equality, and the value of Torah study.”
Katz stressed the need to involve Chareidi leadership in shaping the legislation. “Because the Chareidim will be a third of Israel’s population, it is important in my opinion to promote legislation that is based on dialogue and agreement, including by Chareidi public leaders,” he added.
The proposal drew strong criticism from opposition lawmakers, with some accusing Katz of facilitating draft evasion and prioritizing political considerations over military needs.
“I didn’t sleep at night this year while my son was in Gaza and Lebanon,” exclaimed MK Efrat Rayten of The Democrats.
“You didn’t speak about the needs of the IDF among your principles,” added her colleague MK Merav Michaeli.
Notably absent from the discussion was Brig. Gen. Shay Tayeb, head of the IDF Personnel Directorate’s Planning and Personnel Management Division, who had recently testified that the military would be ready to integrate Chareidi recruits without restrictions by 2026.
Addressing criticisms that his plan diverged from the IDF’s forecast, Katz responded, “The ability to recruit and absorb are two different things. The ability to recruit in practice is related to areas of agreement with the leaders of the Chareidi community and the existence of a law that regulates the status of Torah scholars. Without a legal arrangement, the ability to absorb them is only on paper.”
Chareidi leaders have consistently opposed conscription efforts, arguing that such measures threaten their religious practices. They maintain that even those not engaged in full-time Torah study should not be compelled to serve.
In June, the High Court of Justice ruled unanimously that the government must draft Chareidi yeshiva students, as there is no longer a legal basis for their blanket exemptions. While thousands of draft notices have since been issued, few Chareidim have joined the military, with most continuing to claim exemptions.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, whose governing coalition depends on the Chareidi United Torah Judaism and Shas parties, has sought to pass legislation preserving broad exemptions for the community. However, the proposed bill remains stalled in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Committee chair Likud MK Yuli Edelstein has stated that the legislation will only move forward if lawmakers reach a “broad consensus” that addresses the IDF’s operational priorities.
{Matzav.com Israel}