Ultra-Orthodox Leadership Denounces High Court Sanctions as a Systematic Assault on Jewish Identity

Ultra-Orthodox leaders Goldknopf and Gafni condemn the High Court's 'oppressive' order to strip benefits from Haredi men refusing military service.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 26, 2026, 9:46 AM EDT

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

The Religious Response to Judicial Enforcement

Following the High Court of Justice’s mandate to impose economic sanctions on ultra-Orthodox men who refuse military conscription, senior Haredi politicians have launched a scathing critique of the judiciary. Yitzhak Goldknopf, chairman of the United Torah Judaism party, described the ruling as a devastating blow to the core of Israel’s Jewish identity. The leadership argues that the court’s decision to target the lifestyle and financial stability of the religious public constitutes a crossing of a fundamental red line in Israeli governance.

Targeting Social Subsidies and Childcare Support

The court’s directive specifically requires the government to withdraw transit subsidies, daycare support, and municipal tax discounts from those who evade the draft. Goldknopf characterized these measures as heavy and discriminatory punishments aimed at Torah scholars. He asserted that it is inconceivable to define individuals who dedicate their lives to religious study as criminals, promising that the voice of the Torah would not be silenced by financial threats. According to the UTJ chairman, yeshiva students will persist in their studies with the same devotion they have shown throughout Jewish history.

Demands for Prime Ministerial Intervention

In the wake of the ruling, the ultra-Orthodox leadership has increased pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fulfill his coalition commitments. Goldknopf called on the Prime Minister and other coalition heads to demonstrate responsibility and regulate the legal status of Torah scholars immediately. He argued that it is unacceptable for such harm to occur under the current administration’s watch. The demand for a new exemption law comes at a sensitive time, as the Prime Minister remains bound by prior agreements to settle the status of the Haredi public.