Israeli attorney general to defense minister: Urgent action needed to enforce ultra-Orthodox military conscription

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara clarified today (Wednesday) to Defense Minister Israel Katz that the recruitment targets for ultra-Orthodox men set by the government are not being met. She called on the government to take "urgent action" to enforce IDF conscription laws against draft evaders.

The attorney general referred to the most recent meeting on the issue, which aimed to monitor the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on conscription petitions, and emphasized that the recruitment figures, as determined, fall far short of the army’s needs. In concluding her letter, she urged the defense minister to hold a discussion on the matter to meet the recruitment targets.

Last week, Kan 11's evening news reported for the first time that the Finance Ministry was preparing to block attempts by members of the ultra-Orthodox community to circumvent sanctions against draft evaders, particularly regarding the suspension of daycare subsidies.

The new regulation, which came into effect about a week ago, now requires any draft-eligible yeshiva student attempting to obtain childcare subsidies through alternative means to provide extensive documentation and proof, in order to prevent circumvention of the Supreme Court ruling.

Thus, a yeshiva student claiming to have opened a business will now be required to present certified accountant approvals and income reports over several months to prove that the business is legitimate and not merely created to receive financial benefits. A yeshiva student claiming to be a salaried employee must provide pay slips and proof of national insurance payments, while one claiming to be a student must present proof of actual attendance and tuition payment records.

The daycare subsidy for draft-eligible individuals who have not enlisted was officially discontinued in February, following a Supreme Court ruling and directives from the attorney general.

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry presented data to the Knesset showing that an ultra-Orthodox yeshiva student up to the age of 45 (the age at which military reserve duty exemptions apply) can receive up to 1.5 million shekels in government subsidies, broken down as follows:

• Yeshiva stipends and daycare subsidies for an average of six children, along with National Insurance discounts, amount to approximately 700,000 shekels.

• Property tax (Arnona) discounts and after-school program subsidies add another 300,000 shekels.

• Additional housing benefits, such as eligibility for subsidized housing programs (Mechir Lamishtaken and Dira B’Hanacha), can reach up to 500,000 shekels.

Previously, the attorney general had already expressed opposition to the current draft law proposal. Deputy Attorney General Dr. Gil Limon warned at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "the community-based conscription model lacks effective enforcement and will meet the same fate as previous draft laws struck down by the Supreme Court."