71 heads of cities and local authorities published a statement this evening (Wednesday) opposing the "draft evasion laws" passed in the Knesset. Among them are several local authority heads from Likud - although they do not express in this statement any intention to leave the party over the laws, which include the Torah Study Basic Law meant to lay the future groundwork for an exemption from conscription law, and the law freezing arrests for Haredi draft evaders - for which earlier today the High Court issued an order blocking its implementation during hearings on petitions against it.

"We, the heads of local authorities representing the serving public that bears the security burden - a public that has paid the heaviest prices in body and soul - wish to express our protest against the decision legitimizing evasion by an entire sector. Torah study is an important value among the Jewish people, yet no less important is the value of safeguarding and defending the land," the mayors wrote in their joint statement.

"Many of our residents demonstrate that it is possible to study Torah while also serving the state in the IDF and security forces. The legislation approved in recent days amounts to severe damage to national resilience and the cohesion of Israeli society. It would have been preferable had it never come into being, and certainly not at this complex time amid the challenges facing the State of Israel now and those we will still need to confront in the future."

Several Likud-affiliated mayors or those identified with the party signed the statement, led by Modi'in Mayor Haim Bibas.

This is the full list of signatories: Idan Greenbaum, head of Emek HaYarden Regional Council; Haim Bibas, mayor of Modi'in and chairman of the Center for Local Government; Shai Hajaj, head of Merhavim Regional Council and chairman of the Center for Regional Government; Yariv Fisher, mayor of Herzliya; Ran Konik, mayor of Givatayim; Lizy Delriche, mayor of Ganei Tikva; Itzik Rochberger, mayor of Ramat HaSharon; Rafi Saar, mayor of Kfar Saba; Michal Rosenstein, mayor of Kiryat Ono; Liat Shohat, mayor of Or Yehuda; Roi Gabai, mayor of Yavne; Roi Levi, mayor of Nesher; Roman Peres, mayor of Yokneam Illit; Albert Tayeb, mayor of Kfar Yona; Simcha Yosipov, mayor of Or Akiva.

Eli Dokorsky, mayor of Kiryat Bialik; Tsiki Avishar, mayor of Kiryat Motzkin; Yossi Brodny, mayor of Givat Shmuel; Dudu Cohen, mayor of Tirat Carmel; Yaki Ben Haim, mayor of Migdal HaEmek; Rotem Yadlin, head of Gezer Regional Council; Galit Shaul, head of Emek Hefer Regional Council; Oshrat Gani Gonen, head of Drom HaSharon Regional Council; Shlomit Shichor Reichman, head of Emek Yizrael Regional Council; Asaf Langlevan, head of Galil Elyon Regional Council; Uri Epshtein, head of Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council; Michal Uziahu, head of Eshkol Regional Council; Gil Lin, head of Megiddo Regional Council; Hanan Ginat, head of Hevel Eilot Regional Council; Nir Vanger, head of Tamar Regional Council; Meir Tzur, head of Arava Tichona Regional Council.

Nati Lerner, head of Yoav Regional Council; Eran Glazer, head of Gderot Regional Council; Ahmad Zuabi, head of Bustan al-Marj Regional Council; Mira Ben Ari, head of Gan Raveh Regional Council; Doron Shidlov, head of Brenner Regional Council; Eran Doron, head of Ramat Negev Regional Council; Ben Cohen, head of Be'er Tuvia Regional Council; Asif Izak, head of Hof HaCarmel Regional Council; Nir Zamir, head of Bnei Shimon Regional Council; Eli Bracha, head of Hof HaSharon Regional Council; Arie Sharon, head of Alona Regional Council; Tamir Idan, head of Sdot Negev Regional Council; Dani Ivri, head of Misgav Regional Council; Eli Aton, head of Lev HaSharon Regional Council.

Itamar Matias, head of Emek HaMaayanot Regional Council; Dani Atar, head of Gilboa Regional Council; Amos Netzer, head of Zevulun Regional Council; Arie Cohen, head of Megilot Yam HaMelach Regional Council; Ido Greenblum, head of Kiryat Tivon Local Council; Keren Green, head of Kadima-Tzoran Local Council; Lin Kaplan, head of Tel Mond Local Council; Matan Katzman, head of Even Yehuda Local Council; Rafik Halabi, head of Daliyat al-Karmel Local Council; Oded Halperin, head of Kfar Tavor Local Council; Asaf Oberlander, head of Ramat Yishai Local Council; Serge Korsia, head of Kfar Shmaryahu Local Council; Haim Mendel Shaked, head of Har Adar Local Council.

Gil Hanania, head of Binyamina-Givat Ada Local Council; Yoni Hakimi, head of Pardes Hanna-Karkur Local Council; Hila Ben Rosh Hachmon, head of Kochav Yair-Tzur Yigal Local Council; Dror Aharon, head of Gan Yavne Local Council; Or Piron Zomer, head of Oranit Local Council; Elad Arazi, head of Lehavim Local Council; Tal Gorki, head of Pardesiya Local Council; Ataf Grifat, head of Zarzir Local Council; Eli Dadon, head of Beit Dagan Local Council; Yasser Gadban, head of Kisra-Sumei Local Council; Gabi Gaon, head of Mazkeret Batya Local Council; Ozri Sharoni, head of Elyachin Local Council; Eyal Shmueli, head of Kfar Vradim Local Council.