Smotrich Pushes New Plan to Halt Yeshiva Student Arrests as Coalition Scrambles for Solution
Behind the scenes of Israel’s ongoing draft crisis, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has presented Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu with a legislative proposal aimed at stopping the arrests of bnei yeshiva classified as draft evaders, as the government seeks to defuse growing tensions and repeated protests across the country.
According to a report aired Tuesday evening on i24NEWS, Smotrich recently approached Netanyahu with a new framework designed specifically to address the issue of arrests, which have become a flashpoint in the escalating dispute over the military status of Torah students.
The initiative comes after months of arrests involving bochurim who did not report to draft offices in accordance with the directives of leading Torah authorities and were subsequently designated as draft evaders. Those arrests have sparked major demonstrations and clashes in multiple locations throughout Israel.
According to the report by Amiel Yerachi, Smotrich believes the most effective approach is a narrowly tailored legal solution that directly addresses the arrest issue itself. Supporters of the proposal argue that the current situation has generated significant political and social unrest and that a direct remedy is preferable to indirect efforts focused on economic benefits or sanctions.
The proposal reportedly mirrors frameworks that have been discussed publicly in recent days and is part of a broader effort to find a workable solution before the political crisis deepens further.
The move follows reports that Netanyahu has held a series of urgent consultations on the matter. According to i24NEWS, the prime minister instructed Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs to immediately begin coordinating with relevant government officials to advance the process.
At the same time, the issue remains legally complicated. Any proposal affecting the status of bnei yeshiva and draft evaders is expected to face intense scrutiny from the Attorney General’s Office and other legal authorities, making the path forward far from simple.
The framework currently under consideration would reportedly take the form of expedited emergency legislation enacted as a temporary measure. Coalition leaders hope to fast-track the proposal through the legislative process before the anticipated dissolution of the Knesset next month.
Supporters of the initiative argue that passing the temporary measure before new elections are called could immediately halt the ongoing arrests of bochurim who refuse to report for military service and prevent further confrontations on the streets.
Meanwhile, a separate controversy involving the Daycare Law continues to generate friction within the coalition. The legislation has encountered growing resistance from within the government, with Welfare Minister Ofir Sofer reportedly threatening to resign if the measure advances. As a result, the bill has, for now, been removed from the legislative agenda.
{Matzav.com}
