The Israeli High Court of Justice issued an injunction on July 15, 2026, to block a recently passed law that temporarily exempted ultra-orthodox individuals from military service. The law, which was approved by the Knesset with a vote of 58-54, suspended the ability of law enforcement and military authorities to arrest or prosecute ultra-orthodox draft dodgers. Justice Ofer Grosskopf stated that the law contradicted the court's previous rulings regarding military conscription for ultra-orthodox Jews.
Housing Minister Meir Porush criticized the court's decision, calling it 'illegal' and asserting that any arrests of Torah scholars would be unlawful. Aryeh Deri, chairman of the ultra-orthodox Shas party, expressed discontent with the court's intervention, suggesting it undermined efforts to reach a consensus on the issue.
The law faced significant opposition, leading to the resignation of Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who stated that the government was harming national security. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin have publicly criticized the High Court, with Karhi asserting that court orders suspending laws lack validity. President Isaac Herzog warned that noncompliance with High Court rulings represents a serious concern.