BySARAH BEN-NUN, KESHET NEEV

JULY 15, 2026 15:31

Updated: JULY 15, 2026 15:58

The High Court of Justice issued a temporary suspension on Wednesday for legislation approved by the Knesset the day before. The measure would have ended arrests, probes and enforcement actions against qualifying haredi yeshiva students who skip military service reporting duties.

Justice Ofer Grosskopf delivered the interim order that pauses the law until further review. He also directed the Knesset and government to justify why the statute should remain valid.

Grosskopf referenced prior court decisions on yeshiva student conscription, the risks of halting enforcement for select population segments, and the substantial objections raised by petitioners regarding the law's constitutionality.

The court directed that the petitions receive prompt consideration by an expanded panel chosen by Supreme Court President Isaac Amit. Respondents must file replies to the petitions and interim injunction requests four days ahead of the hearing, whose date remains pending.

The decision addresses four petitions submitted by Israel Hofsheet, opposition leader Yair Lapid along with seven Yesh Atid lawmakers, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman with MK Oded Forer and the party, plus the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.

The order leaves the legislation intact yet blocks its implementation during judicial review of the challenges.

Court directs state defense of haredi draft enforcement pause

The Knesset enacted the law in second and third readings on Tuesday by a 58 to 54 margin. The temporary clause was slated to operate until November 30 and would have suspended actions against yeshiva students satisfying the law's criteria.

Passage occurred despite cautions from Knesset legal advisers that the provision would grant yeshiva students immunity from criminal penalties for missing reporting obligations while preserving those penalties for others. Advisers also flagged serious issues with the legislative process used to advance the bill.

Israel Hofsheet CEO Uri Keidar welcomed the ruling. "Haredi youth remain subject to the rule of law like everyone else. No more and no less. If it was not already evident, the time for equality has arrived," he stated.

The Movement for Quality Government described the outcome as "a significant and important achievement," noting that "the court halted the disgrace."

The organization emphasized that the provisional order marks only the start of proceedings and pledged to pursue complete repeal of both the law and the new Basic Law: Torah Study, insisting that "one law must apply to all."

Israel enacts Basic Law: Torah Study amid IDF personnel shortage

The Basic Law passed the Knesset on Monday by 63 votes to 52. It designates Torah study "a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people and in the State of Israel." An earlier provision that would have elevated Torah study above other core values was removed after legal objections, yet critics argue the measure could still bolster legal protections for non-serving yeshiva students and their state benefits.

The movement filed a distinct petition against the Basic Law, contending that the Knesset improperly used its constituent powers to enact a narrow political deal as constitutional text and to bypass prior rulings mandating equal military service. It characterized the Basic Law and enforcement freeze as coordinated steps to create a draft exemption "through the back door."

Shas chairman Arye Deri criticized the ruling as "yet another expression of power-drunk judicial activism," claiming the court lacked authority to block legislation backed by a Knesset majority.

He asserted the court opted to "trample democracy, deepen the chaos and irresponsibly drag the country toward civil war" instead of permitting a temporary step meant to avert escalation and allow time for wider consensus.

Deri's account does not align with the bill's handling. It reached a final vote on Tuesday during the Knesset's last sessions before automatic dispersal ahead of the October 27 election and passed narrowly as part of a reported coalition deal involving haredi parties.

The law created no mechanism for broader enlistment talks and set no recruitment goals. It merely suspended arrest, investigation and enforcement proceedings against qualifying yeshiva students, despite legal advisers warning that it failed to lessen service inequality and relied on an "improper legislative process."