Giyus Draft Law Publicized Ahead of Deliberations

More on the bill.

The bill cancels all draft orders issued to haredim since 2023, effectively resetting the system and granting a kind of retroactive “amnesty” to those who received call-up notices under the previous legal vacuum.

The bill also introduces a limited recognition of “civil-security service.” Up to 10% of the annual draft target could be fulfilled through service in bodies such as the police, the Prison Service, or other security-related frameworks.

In addition, men who grew up in the Charedi school system but have since become less observant would still be counted toward the charedi quota if they enlist.

Summary of Key Differences Between Bismuth’s Draft and Edelstein’s Earlier Proposal

Sanctions on Individuals:

Bismuth’s bill keeps personal sanctions on draft evaders but significantly softens them. Sanctions apply only until roughly age 26 (sometimes 23 for certain measures), after which a non-enlisted man can regularize his civil status. Possible sanctions include: suspension of a driver’s license, travel restrictions, and work limits outside designated study hours.

Earlier drafts considered much harsher financial penalties, such as cutting tax benefits and scholarships  measures not included in Bismuth’s version.

Sanctions on Yeshivos:

Yeshiva funding would be tied to meeting 75% of their recruitment targets; institutions falling short would face partial budget cuts, not full defunding.

There are no intrusive enforcement mechanisms such as biometric time clocks that were discussed in tougher proposals. Critics argue this leaves the law largely symbolic.

- PM office optimistic the law will pass.

Prime Minister’s Office personnel claim

The draft conscription law presented today something that has not been done since the founding of the state will lead to the enlistment of about 23,000 Charedim within three and a half years; four times the average until now and four times the targets set in the original Liberman-Gantz law. The law combines sanctions and strict restrictions for failing to meet the targets. This is an excellent law, and this law will pass.(Amit Segal)

The giyus draft law that will exempt bochurin from serving in the IDF has formally been publices by the house and foreign relations committee chair Boaz Bismut. The committee will have a marathon of hearings in it next week.

The law includes quotas and sanctions if the numbers are not met.

It already faces backslash from knesset members vowing to oppose it

Yuli Edelstein “This is not a draft law.” 

 Naftali Bennett: “We will fight the exemption law.”

Lapid: “An anti-Zionist disgrace.”

Eisenkot: “A national disgrace.”

In the published draft, it is written that national civilian service in auxiliary units of the Prime Minister’s Office is considered “service,” and that a Charedi individual is defined as someone who studied in religious institutions from age 14 to 18. In other words, the law sets recruitment targets not from among current yeshiva students  but from among “graduates of the  Charedi education system.”

According to the draft, the targets have increased compared to the leaked version  8,160 bochurim  will be recruited in the first year to military and civilian service. After that, a decrease: 6,840 in the second year, 7,920 in the third, and in the fourth year no fewer than 8,500. From the fifth year onward, according to the draft, 50% of each annual cohort of Charedi-education graduates will be recruited. However, this includes those drafted into civilian service as well, not only military service.

In the draft prepared by the previous committee chair, Yuli Edelstein, only those who enlist in combat or combat-support roles are counted toward the quotas while all other forms of civilian service are not counted toward the recruitment quota.

Senior officials in Agudat Yisrael stated: “The matter is currently under review, and in the coming hours we will bring it before the leading Torah authorities for a decision.”

Reporter Amit Segal says at first glance, the draft-exemption law appears to set a dramatically higher initial recruitment target of 8,160. However, the first recruitment year actually spans a year and a half, because the first recruitment period is defined as ending on June 30, 2027. Only then will we begin to know whether the targets are being met at all, and the sanctions mechanism will begin.