Bismuth Refuses Delay on Haredi Draft-Arrest Vote

Walla published at 21:10 IDT, with metadata updated at 21:13, that opposition members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee asked chair Boaz Bismuth to delay by a week the vote on legislation freezing criminal proceedings and arrests for yeshiva students in draft-evader status, and Bismuth refused. Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, Ynetnews and Emess describe the measure as a 90-day temporary order pushed after letters from Defense Minister Israel Katz and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs. The issue cuts across coalition discipline, IDF manpower and Torah-study protections. Israel should widen service responsibly while treating serious yeshiva study and Haredi families with respect.