Jerusalem, 11 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — United Torah Judaism (UTJ) MK Meir Porush submitted two bills Wednesday, joined by MK Elyakim Shterk, seeking to regulate yeshiva students’ military-service status and halt enforcement against draft evaders.
The move puts the contentious conscription issue at the top of the Haredi parties’ legislative agenda as the 26th Knesset gets into gear, with the previous temporary arrangement set to expire at the end of November.
The first bill would establish a permanent framework allowing the defense minister to defer military service for yeshiva students studying at least 45 hours weekly and kollel (higher-level yeshiva) students studying 40 hours. Deferrals could be renewed annually until age 26, when recipients would receive a full exemption.
The second, a one-year emergency measure, would freeze arrests, investigations, and criminal enforcement against draft evaders whose reporting dates fell on or after July 1, 2023.