On Tuesday afternoon the coalition delivered a final blow by passing a bill that freezes arrests of haredi draft evaders for a minimum of six months.

Fifty eight lawmakers supported the measure and fifty four opposed it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived amid heated exchanges with the opposition and protests from bereaved families and reservists yet departed before the vote took place.

The law represents either a reckless approach to one of the country s most contentious topics or a narrow political calculation aimed at retaining haredi backing ahead of the next election. Rather than addressing demands for equal national service the coalition opted to protect one group while requiring others to continue bearing the load.

The High Court of Justice responded on Wednesday with a provisional order halting the law. Justice Ofer Grosskopf cited concerns over selective enforcement that affects only specific segments of the population.

The court acted correctly to uphold equal application of the law. An eighteen year old in Bnei Brak should not enjoy immunity from a draft order while a peer five minutes away in Ramat Gan risks imprisonment for the identical action.

If the government wishes to argue that the High Court exceeds its bounds it undermines that position by advancing a statute that openly creates unequal enforcement.

Coalitions sometimes push bills through in their final days yet this one governed on October 7 2023 and continues to lead during the most extensive conflict since the nation s founding.

A shifting security landscape and acute personnel deficit

Throughout the conflict military leaders have repeatedly highlighted severe manpower shortfalls. Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir cautioned that the army could collapse without remedies and stated his complete opposition to the bill.

The government won election in November 2022 but conditions have transformed since then. Repeated surveys indicate that most Israelis who have served and continue to serve in reserves reject exemptions for haredim.

Coalition members who opposed the bill merit recognition. Likud MK Yuli Edelstein announced plans to seek a new political base after his removal from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Fellow MK Dan Illouz is also expected to depart while Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel resigned after the vote.

Their stance is principled yet it arrives too late. The Knesset disperses on Friday and the government will operate in transition until new elections produce a fresh coalition.

Long standing divisions cannot be resolved through hurried final hour legislation. Israelis cannot reasonably endorse a bill that even the prime minister declined to support.

The sole proper path is to place the question of haredi enlistment before voters in October.