Israeli Opposition Leaders Rally Behind High Court Mandate to Strip Benefits from Haredi Draft Evaders

Yair Lapid and other Israeli opposition leaders welcome the High Court's ruling to strip benefits from ultra-Orthodox men who refuse military enlistment.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 26, 2026, 9:17 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

Opposition Leadership Demands Immediate End to Exemptions

Following the High Court’s ruling to implement economic penalties against ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid issued a firm endorsement of the judicial intervention. The chair of the Yesh Atid party stated that the court has effectively declared that the era of draft dodging must conclude without delay. According to Lapid, the current administration under Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a fundamental choice between supporting Zionist values or siding with those who refuse to serve in the military.

Judicial Accountability and the Burden of Service

Yair Golan, the head of The Democrats, echoed the sentiment by invoking the historical phrase that there are still judges in Jerusalem. Golan emphasized that future governance must ensure the Haredi public enlists to alleviate the lopsided pressure currently felt by the tax-paying and military-serving sectors of society. He argued that the ruling marks an essential step toward ending political maneuvering that has long allowed the ultra-Orthodox community to bypass the national burden of defense.

The Financial Logic of Military Compliance

The sanctions outlined by the court, which include the withdrawal of transportation subsidies, daycare support, and municipal tax breaks, have become a focal point for political debate. Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, signaled his strong support for these measures by asserting that true right-wing ideology does not permit evasion. According to Liberman, the principle of state support should be directly linked to service, stating that those who do not enlist should not receive government benefits.