Draft

National-religious men overrepresented in IDF reserves as haredim stay absent, IDI analysis finds

National-Religious men were found to have increased in service substantially from the start of the war until 2025, while the participation of secular men decreased the most of any group.

|ByJONAH DAVIDOV
THE ZIONIST identity didn’t overcome the Jewish identity, nor did the opposite occur: An IDF soldier puts on tefillin.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Eyal Zamir meets with soldiers in southern Lebanon, July 4, 2026.

Israeli youth eager for combat, majority see IDF as victorious - poll

Despite their faith in the IDF, just 59% expressed medium-to-high levels of trust in the IDF's senior command, while 41% said that they had low or very low trust in the army's senior leadership.

|ByESTHER DAVIS
Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters block Highway 4 over detention of draft dodger, August 12, 2026.

Haredi protest concludes after blocking Highway 4 near Bnei Brak over draft dodger detention

Shas MK Moshe Abutbul described the draft dodger as a "yeshiva guy" who approached the police to assist in an ongoing investigation, demanding that such procedures be changed to avoid arrests.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A protester shouts at former IDF Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter during a demonstration against an IDF recruitment conference for the Haredi community in Jerusalem, August 4, 2026.

'Traitor to the Jewish people': Haredim protest against Ofer Winter after enlistment conference

Winter has frequently appeared at conferences and public events as he considers entering politics ahead of the upcoming elections.

|ByAVI SOLOMON

Haredi protesters block Jerusalem road over false reports of draft dodger arrest

In addition, Jerusalem District Police raided the homes of suspects connected to the June 1 haredi riots in Beit Shemesh.

JUNE 9, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men clash with police during a protest against construction work on the Jerusalem Light Rail in the Bar-Ilan area of Jerusalem, June 8, 2026; Illustrative.

Ultra-Orthodox protesters block Jerusalem's Tunnel Checkpoint after draft dodger arrested

Border Police officers from the Jerusalem periphery unit and Jerusalem District police officers are operating at the scene.

JUNE 7, 2026ByEFRAT FORSHER, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
HAREDI PROTESTERS block Highway 1, June 1, 2026; Illustrative.

Israel must stop tolerating anti-draft anarchy - opinion

The young men and women who put their lives on the line for all of us, including the yeshiva students, display more courage by realizing that a nation that will not defend itself is not worth saving.

JUNE 6, 2026ByCOOKIE SCHWAEBER-ISSAN
Ultra-Orthodox Jews carry a banner in Hebrew that reads, “to prison and not the army,” during a “million man” protest against military conscription, in Jerusalem October 30, 2025.

WATCH: Bodycam shows soldier rescued by police from haredi protest amid threats, attacks

The soldier was rescued after getting off a blocked bus in Jerusalem, where he was surrounded by an agitated crowd of protesters.

JUNE 2, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
HAREDI MEN protest against the jailing of yeshiva students who failed to comply with an IDF draft order, in May 2026.

Ultra-Orthodox protesters hold anti-draft protests, block train tracks near airport

Additionally, at least three police officers were injured during the protests, Israel Police said following the event's conclusion.

JUNE 1, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
HAREDI PROTESTERS block Highway 1, June 1, 2026; Illustrative.

Haredi protesters break into Beit Shemesh police station in overnight riot, eight arrested

The riot occured following the arrest of an alleged draft dodger.

JUNE 1, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ultra-Orthodox protests erupt across Israel on haredi IDF enlistment day; Illustrative.

Haredi draft debate: Equality of burden, or selective obligation? - opinion

Israel should not invoke citizenship when speaking about haredim.

MAY 31, 2026ByBENYOMIN NEMOFF
Ultra-Orthodox Jews carry a banner in Hebrew that reads, “to prison and not the army,” during a “million man” protest against military conscription, in Jerusalem October 30, 2025.

Knesset advances ultra-Orthodox daycare subsidy bill after haredi threat to back Oct. 7 probe

The legislation was sponsored by MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) and a group of additional haredi lawmakers.

MAY 27, 2026ByKESHET NEEV
A plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, May 27, 2026.

Hi-tech female artillery unit soldiers aiding in defense against Iran, Hezbollah talk to 'Post'

The Jerusalem Post interviewed a mixed female-male IDF firepower unit that is helping to fill combat manpower shortages.

MAY 20, 2026ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Soldiers from an artillery unit stationed near the Israel-Lebanon border during the ongoing war with Iran and Hezbollah, March 15, 2026; illustrative.

Knesset dissolution bill vote set for Wednesday amid coalition crisis over haredi draft bill

Debates on draft bill to resume before vote, coalition rushes to fast-track controversial legislation ahead of dissolution

MAY 19, 2026ByKESHET NEEV
MK Boaz Bismuth seen with Haredi MK's during a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, January 14, 2026.