Deri says Shas supports draft evaders during prison visit, calls to add Torah study to Basic Law
Leaders of the Chareidi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism visited arrested Chareidi draft evaders at Neve Tzedek Military Prison on Sunday, expressing support and calling for their release despite the IDF’s severe manpower shortage.
Shas leader Arye Deri, accompanied by MKs Michael Malkieli and Haim Biton, met detainees and gave out copies of Emunah Ubitachon bearing a personal inscription from Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira, promising to send more sefarim. The delegation was escorted by prison commander Lt. Col. Shay Ben Baruch, the prison rabbi, and members of the facility’s professional staff.
Deri vowed legislation would soon establish Torah study as a Basic Law, a move expected to further encourage draft exemptions for Chareidi men. Shas said Deri encouraged the detainees and stressed that the party was working with “all its strength” to secure their release and regulate their status. Outside the prison, Deri accused Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara of “sabotaging” legislation aiding draft evaders.
Separately, UTJ leader MK Yitzhak Goldknopf visited the prison and said it was “difficult for him to see” the detainees’ condition.
Chareidi parties have consistently pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to advance legislation that would not increase Chareidi enlistment, despite repeated IDF warnings of an urgent manpower shortage after more than two years of war. In March, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir warned the military could soon collapse without a solution.
A proposal to add Torah study to a Basic Law is expected to reach the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Tuesday after a scheduled Sunday meeting was canceled. Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni demanded the committee convene quickly and called for a preliminary Knesset vote as early as Wednesday.
The legislation is reportedly part of an emerging deal between Netanyahu and the Chareidi parties ahead of the Knesset dissolution vote. According to Channel 12, Netanyahu would push elections to October 20 rather than September, while Chareidi parties would receive progress on the Basic Law: Torah Study, Chareidi daycare subsidies law, and the kashrus law.
Chareidi lawmakers previously sought September elections, reportedly to boost turnout among haredi voters. Netanyahu reportedly prefers late October to allow more time for legislation and military objectives.
Likud MK Dan Illouz vowed to oppose the bill, calling it an attempt to “enshrine draft evasion” and a “dangerous invention” that alters Jewish law and the Jewish people’s DNA. Democratic Party leader Yair Golan condemned Deri’s support for draft evaders and pledged to enact equal conscription if elected. General elections must be held no later than October 27.
