Netanyahu Says Draft-Arrest Freeze Failed and Won’t Return

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a closed-door meeting that the temporary law freezing arrests of Haredi draft evaders had failed and would not return under the next government. He said it was meant to lower tensions and increase enlistment but did not succeed. Netanyahu said that after the election, a broad national government would quickly pass a comprehensive draft law meeting IDF needs, distinguishing full-time Torah scholars from men who are not studying. He said those not studying would have to enlist or go to prison; reports noted the current arrest-freeze law passed 58-54 before the Supreme Court blocked it.