KESHET NEEV

The removal incident took place during a debate on the bill, in which five of the attorney general's deputies made a rare joint appearance to present their opposition.

Critics say the bill could preserve state benefits for yeshiva students who avoid military service amid the IDF’s manpower shortage.

Yair Lapid made the remarks at a faction press conference in the Knesset for the Together Party, of which he is a member, led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett.

The most recent proposal advanced is a bill that would halt the arrests of haredi draft evaders, which is set to be debated on Tuesday in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

While no decision has been announced on allowing Netanyahu to control the first slots, the updated rules and procedures for the primaries are expected to be released on Thursday.

MKs Gafni and Deri stated that the prime minister had “made it clear at the meeting that he is committed to approving the laws and will work to advance them quickly.”

The bill seeks to enshrine Torah study in the country’s Basic Law as part of a proposal that critics argue encourages draft evasion and changes the status of yeshiva students who do not serve.

Halevi is a member of the Likud Constitution Committee, which will hold a vote on changing the primary system in a way that could grant Netanyahu authority to select candidates for the highest slots.

Shas Party leader Arye Deri also attributed the boycott of coalition voting to the recent rise in police arrests of haredi draft evaders.

"We respect President Trump, but first of all, the soldiers of Israel, our fighters, our citizens. The security of Israel's civilians comes first," he said.