Israel

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Resigns in Protest Against Freeze on Arrest of Haredim

Sharren Haskel, Israel's deputy foreign minister and a member of the Likud party, resigned from her post in protest over the Knesset's approval of a halt to the arrest of Haredim 'evading conscription'.

The resignation comes amid divisions within the Israeli government coalition over the issue of Haredi conscription.

Zein Khalil

14 July 2026 • Update: 14 July 2026

photo: Israeli Knesset / AA

ISRAEL

Zein Khalil / Anadolu Agency

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel announced Tuesday evening her resignation from her post in protest over the Knesset's passage of a law freezing the arrest of Haredim who evade military service, according to Hebrew media.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Haskel, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, announced her resignation after the Knesset approved a law halting the arrest of Haredim evading conscription.

Haskel had voted against the bill earlier Tuesday evening, along with lawmakers Yuli Edelstein and Dan Illouz, both from the Likud party.

The Knesset passed the bill in second and third readings, making it effective, while Netanyahu was absent from the voting session.

The law was approved by a majority of 58 members, with 54 opposing out of 120 Knesset members, according to Israel Hayom.

The Hebrew Channel 7 (private) said that the parties Yisrael Beiteinu and Yesh Atid submitted a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court challenging the law.

For her part, Haskel said after voting against the law, according to Channel 7: 'I stand before you in great pain, because the law exempting evaders of conscription was passed in the Knesset plenum.'

She added: 'This law harms those who serve in the military and the security of the state... The exemption law has been passed, and therefore I have decided to resign from my position in the government; I can no longer stand idly by.'

No official comment from the Israeli government has been issued on the resignation so far.

According to The Times of Israel, the law effectively aims to freeze the conscription of Haredim into the army for at least seven months.

The site added that the law applies to Haredim who reach conscription age after it takes effect, and also freezes existing criminal proceedings against current evaders.

It clarified that the law also eliminates the possibility of imposing financial penalties on directors and employees of religious seminaries if they submit false statements regarding their students' eligibility for immunity from arrest.

In a related context, the Knesset finally passed on Monday the Basic Law: Torah Study, which grants students of religious seminaries (yeshivot) a special legal status.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said this law could strengthen the Haredim's position before the Supreme Court and pave the way for a future law exempting them from military service.

It added that the understanding between Netanyahu and the Haredi parties is based on the government coalition's support for laws serving the Haredim, foremost the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law freezing the arrest of conscription evaders, in exchange for the Haredi parties voting in favor of bills aimed at weakening the media and reducing the powers of the government's legal adviser.

Haredim make up about 13% of Israel's population of over 10 million, and they refuse to perform military service, claiming dedication to Torah study, believing that integration into secular society threatens their religious identity.

For decades, members of this community have managed to avoid conscription upon reaching the age of 18 by obtaining repeated deferrals under the pretext of studying in religious seminaries, until reaching the exemption age currently set at 26.

However, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 to obligate Haredim to perform military service and to halt financial support for religious institutions whose students refuse conscription.

The narrow approval of the law reflects the sharp political division in Israel over this issue. The parties Yisrael Beiteinu and Yesh Atid have already filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court, making it likely that the legal debate over the constitutionality of the law will continue.