Conscription law
Votes on conscription into the IDF and mandatory service
Timeline
Second and third reading8The votes where a law passes or fails
The Defense Service Law regulates the obligation to serve in the Israel Defense Forces.
Section 36A of the Defense Service Law [Consolidated Version], 5746-1986, sets an arrangement for granting an exemption from service in the Israel Defense Forces due to age, so that an Israeli citizen or permanent resident who is not an officer and has reached age forty, or an officer who has reached age forty-five, will be exempt from the duty of defense service.
The law provided that anyone who was due to receive an exemption from reserve service for reasons of age on 31.12.2023 will remain part of the reserve system until 29.2.2024.
| Date | Vote | Reading | Result | For / Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 16, 2026 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 29 – Temporary Provision) Bill, 2026 Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 43 / 12 |
| July 14, 2026 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 28 – Temporary Provision), 2026 The Defense Service Law regulates the obligation to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 58 / 54 |
| December 24, 2025 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 7 and Temporary Provision) (Service in the Police and Recognized Service) (Amendment No. 19) Bill, 2025 Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 14 / 0 |
| February 28, 2024 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 26 – Temporary Provision – Swords of Iron) Bill, 2024 Section 36A of the Defense Service Law [Consolidated Version], 5746-1986, sets an arrangement for granting an exemption from service in the Israel Defense Forces due to age, so that an Israeli citizen or permanent resident who is not an officer and has reached age forty, or an officer who has reached age forty-five, will be exempt from the duty of defense service. Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 44 / 30 |
| December 27, 2023 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 25 – Temporary Provision – Swords of Iron) (Raising the Age of Exemption from Reserve Service) Bill, 2023 The law provided that anyone who was due to receive an exemption from reserve service for reasons of age on 31.12.2023 will remain part of the reserve system until 29.2.2024. Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 2 / 0 |
| July 30, 2023 | Defense Service Law (Temporary Provision) (Posting of Army Veterans to the Israel Prison Service (Amendment No. 11) Bill, 2023 Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 9 / 0 |
| February 21, 2023 | Defense Service Law (Temporary Provision) (Posting of Army Veterans to the Israel Prison Service) (Amendment No. 10) Bill, 2023 Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 18 / 3 |
| February 14, 2023 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 7 and Temporary Provision) (Service in the Police and Recognized Service) (Amendment No. 18) Bill, 2023 Government bill | Third reading | Passed | 15 / 2 |
Preliminary and first reading23Bills at the start of the process
A bill to add an administrative enforcement measure of financial sanctions for violating the Defense Service Law, in amounts of 50,000 and 100,000 shekels depending on severity.
A proposal to establish an inter-ministerial team that will plan programs to deal with incitement against Haredi soldiers in the army.
A bill to prevent budgetary support for public institutions that incite evasion of military service.
The bill sets a framework for exemption from and deferral of security service for religious students recognized as prodigies, up to 0.07% of the Jewish population a year.
A bill to update the Compulsory Education Law to allow a budget cut of up to 20% for educational institutions where the rate of enlistment of their graduates in security or civilian service is below 80%.
A bill to deny tax benefits to nonprofits and educational institutions that encourage evasion of security service.
A bill to make the continued receipt of reduced National Insurance contributions for students of Torah institutions conditional on security or civilian service.
A bill to make eligibility to participate in discounted housing programs conditional on fulfilling obligations under the Defense Service Law.
A bill to make financial assistance for Torah learners and needy students conditional on fulfilling security service obligations.
A bill to grant soldiers who served as combat soldiers a right to free sessions with a psychologist after the end of their service.
Under the Recognition of the Contribution of Dogs That Served in Security Bodies Law, 5786–2026, it was provided that the owner of a dog (other than a corporation) that served in the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service or the Knesset Guard will be entitled to reimbursement from the state for the medical expenses required to treat their dog,…
A proposal to give army veterans who served as combat soldiers the right to free sessions with a psychologist after the end of their service.
A proposal for a law of mandatory service for citizens in Israel for two years, in public and security bodies.
A proposal to extend the temporary provision raising the age of exemption from reserve duty until the end of September 2024, and to amend technical provisions in the arrangement.
The proposal requires equalizing the processes of screening, placement, staffing and training in professional tracks and the paths of advancement between women and men in defense service.
A bill to introduce compulsory service for all in public fields, averaging 36 hours a week for two years, with a living allowance and no salary.
Section 36A of the Defense Service Law [Consolidated Version], 5746-1986, sets an arrangement for granting an exemption from service in the Israel Defense Forces due to age, so that an Israeli citizen or permanent resident who is not an officer and has reached age forty, or an officer who has reached age forty-five, will be exempt from the duty of defense service.
The law provided that anyone who was due to receive an exemption from reserve service for reasons of age on 31.12.2023 will remain part of the reserve system until 29.2.2024.
| Date | Vote | Reading | Result | For / Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 4, 2026 | Defense Service Law (Amendment – Financial Sanction) Bill, 2025 A bill to add an administrative enforcement measure of financial sanctions for violating the Defense Service Law, in amounts of 50,000 and 100,000 shekels depending on severity. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Moshe Tur-Paz | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 36 / 57 |
| January 14, 2026 | Defense Service Law (Amendment – Addressing Incitement Against Haredi Soldiers) Bill, 2025 A proposal to establish an inter-ministerial team that will plan programs to deal with incitement against Haredi soldiers in the army. Initiated by: a party that left the coalitionInitiator: Alon Schuster | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 24 / 49 |
| January 7, 2026 | Budget Foundations Law (Amendment – Preventing Support for Institutions That Incite Draft Evasion) Bill, 2025 A bill to prevent budgetary support for public institutions that incite evasion of military service. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Vladimir Beliak, Naor Shiri and 6 more | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 37 / 51 |
| December 8, 2025 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 7 and Temporary Provision) (Service in the Police and Recognized Service) (Amendment No. 19) Bill, 2025 Government bill | First reading | Passed | 14 / 1 |
| December 3, 2025 | Defense Service Law (Amendment – Ben-Gurion Framework for Deferral and Exemption from Service on Grounds of Religious Studies) Bill, 2025 The bill sets a framework for exemption from and deferral of security service for religious students recognized as prodigies, up to 0.07% of the Jewish population a year. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Meirav Cohen | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 33 / 56 |
| November 26, 2025 | Compulsory Education Law (Amendment – Budget Reduction Due to Non-Enlistment of Graduates) Bill, 2025 A bill to update the Compulsory Education Law to allow a budget cut of up to 20% for educational institutions where the rate of enlistment of their graduates in security or civilian service is below 80%. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Moshe Tur-Paz | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 35 / 53 |
| October 29, 2025 | Income Tax Ordinance Amendment (Denial of Recognition to Nonprofits That Encourage Evasion of Security Service) Bill, 2025 A bill to deny tax benefits to nonprofits and educational institutions that encourage evasion of security service. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Naama Lazimi | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 37 / 56 |
| October 22, 2025 | National Insurance Law (Amendment – Compliance with the Defense Service Law as a Condition for Paying Reduced National Insurance Contributions) Bill, 2025 A bill to make the continued receipt of reduced National Insurance contributions for students of Torah institutions conditional on security or civilian service. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Meirav Cohen | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 38 / 53 |
| October 22, 2025 | Conditioning Housing Benefits on Fulfillment of Obligations under the Defense Service Law Bill, 2025 A bill to make eligibility to participate in discounted housing programs conditional on fulfilling obligations under the Defense Service Law. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Meirav Cohen | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 40 / 53 |
| October 22, 2025 | Economic Assistance to Encourage Torah Learners and Needy Students Law (Amendment – Compliance with the Provisions of the Defense Service Law as a Condition for Assistance) Bill, 2025 A bill to make financial assistance for Torah learners and needy students conditional on fulfilling security service obligations. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Meirav Cohen | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 38 / 55 |
| July 2, 2025 | Defense Service Law (Amendment – Therapeutic Assistance for Military Service Veterans) Bill, 2025 A bill to grant soldiers who served as combat soldiers a right to free sessions with a psychologist after the end of their service. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Moshe Tur-Paz, Yair Lapid | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 32 / 51 |
| February 12, 2025 | Recognition of the Contribution of Dogs in Security Service Bill, 2024 Under the Recognition of the Contribution of Dogs That Served in Security Bodies Law, 5786–2026, it was provided that the owner of a dog (other than a corporation) that served in the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service or the Knesset Guard will be entitled to reimbursement from the state for the medical expenses required to treat their dog,… Joint initiativeInitiator: Moshe Passal, Yuli Edelstein and 3 more | Preliminary reading | Passed | 9 / 0 |
| November 20, 2024 | Defense Service Law (Amendment – Therapeutic Assistance for Military Service Veterans) Bill, 2023 A proposal to give army veterans who served as combat soldiers the right to free sessions with a psychologist after the end of their service. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Moshe Tur-Paz, Yair Lapid | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 28 / 48 |
| July 18, 2024 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 28 and Temporary Provision) Bill, 2024 Government bill | First reading | Passed | 56 / 43 |
| June 26, 2024 | Mandatory Service for All Bill, 2024 A proposal for a law of mandatory service for citizens in Israel for two years, in public and security bodies. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Avigdor Liberman, Oded Forer and 4 more | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 42 / 63 |
| June 24, 2024 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 27) (Raising the Exemption Age – Swords of Iron – Extension of the Temporary Provision) Bill, 2024 A proposal to extend the temporary provision raising the age of exemption from reserve duty until the end of September 2024, and to amend technical provisions in the arrangement. Government bill | First reading | Passed | 51 / 47 |
| March 20, 2024 | Defense Service Law (Amendment – Equalizing the Screening, Placement, Staffing and Training Processes, Professional Tracks and Promotion Horizons for Women and Men) Bill, 2023 The proposal requires equalizing the processes of screening, placement, staffing and training in professional tracks and the paths of advancement between women and men in defense service. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Merav Michaeli | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 13 / 43 |
| March 6, 2024 | Mandatory Service for All Bill, 2023 A bill to introduce compulsory service for all in public fields, averaging 36 hours a week for two years, with a living allowance and no salary. Initiated by: oppositionInitiator: Avigdor Liberman, Oded Forer and 4 more | Preliminary reading | Did not pass | 36 / 62 |
| January 29, 2024 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 25 – Temporary Provision – Swords of Iron) (Raising the Age of Exemption from Reserve Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2024 Section 36A of the Defense Service Law [Consolidated Version], 5746-1986, sets an arrangement for granting an exemption from service in the Israel Defense Forces due to age, so that an Israeli citizen or permanent resident who is not an officer and has reached age forty, or an officer who has reached age forty-five, will be exempt from the duty of defense service. Government bill | First reading | Passed | 14 / 4 |
| December 14, 2023 | Defense Service Law (Amendment No. 27 – Temporary Provision – Swords of Iron) (Raising the Age of Exemption from Reserve Service) Bill, 2023 The law provided that anyone who was due to receive an exemption from reserve service for reasons of age on 31.12.2023 will remain part of the reserve system until 29.2.2024. Government bill | First reading | Passed | 7 / 0 |
Other plenum votes6Approvals, motions for the agenda and procedural decisions
The Defense Service Law regulates the obligation to serve in the Israel Defense Forces.
Knesset map by topic
A weighted position for each MK across all the votes on this topic (a third reading counts for more). 🟡 Mixed = voted both for and against in different votes. The map shows 141 MKs: 120 serving today, plus 21 who served at some point in the current term and actually voted on this topic - which is why the number is above 120.