Netanyahu Faces Scrutiny Over Reported Shift on Ultra Orthodox Draft Law

Reports have emerged from a closed door meeting on Sunday in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly stated that draft evaders who do not study Torah will either enlist or go to prison. According to these reports, Netanyahu expressed the intention to introduce a comprehensive conscription bill that meets the needs of the IDF in the next government. This reported stance follows a July 14 law passed by Netanyahu's coalition that froze arrests of haredi draft evaders, a measure that was subsequently frozen by the High Court of Justice.

A Kan 11 poll published on Sunday projects that if an election were held today, Netanyahu's Likud party and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party would be tied with 23 seats each out of 120. The opposition bloc currently does not have a majority while boycotting Arab parties.

Outlets with a center right lean frame the situation as a necessary but potentially untrustworthy reversal, arguing that Netanyahu must provide actual legislation rather than campaign promises to address the IDF manpower shortage. Outlets with a left lean frame the leaked quotes as a calculated political trick or an attempt to create a false impression of a rift with ultra Orthodox allies to lure back voters. A center outlet focuses on the broader political tension, noting fears that Netanyahu's government may take extreme measures to maintain power as he trails in the polls.