Israel's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday (June 25) that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the military, a decree with the potential to divide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. Lawmakers voiced conflicting views on the decision.

Jerusalem

Israel's Supreme Court has ordered the state to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the military. The ruling has sparked division among lawmakers and holds the potential to exacerbate tensions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government. The government, which includes two ultra-Orthodox parties, relies on conscription exemptions to keep their constituents in religious seminaries. Leaders of these parties expressed disappointment but did not immediately threaten the government.

Moshe Roth of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party commented that the ruling lacks practical implications and criticized the High Court for intervening in what he sees as a complex issue. Ariel Kalner from Netanyahu's Likud party emphasized the commitment to ensuring that the ultra-Orthodox community feels comfortable serving in the military while maintaining their religious beliefs.

The decision comes at a critical time when Israel’s military is overstretched due to conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. While Israelis are required to serve in the military upon turning 18, both Arab citizens and ultra-Orthodox students have historically been exempt. The recent court ruling followed the expiration of a law granting these exemptions.

The ruling has been welcomed by opposition parties and has led to protests from both sides. Israelis angry about bearing the brunt of military service protested the exemptions, while ultra-Orthodox demonstrators rallied against the ruling, blocking roads and displaying signs. The ultra-Orthodox community, which constitutes 13% of Israel's 10 million population, is projected to grow due to high birth rates, intensifying the debate over conscription exemptions.



Israel ends draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews

Israel's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the military. It's a decree that has divided lawmakers and could cause further tension in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. Netanyahu's government relies on two ultra-Orthodox parties. Both see conscription exemptions as key to keeping their constituents in religious seminaries and away from a melting pot military that might test their conservative customs. Leaders of those parties said they were disappointed with the ruling, but neither issued an immediate threat to the government. Moshe Roth is from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party. This ruling actually doesn't have any implications, any practical implications. It's more of a declaration more than anything else. It doesn't add anything to the defense issue at this time. So it's very hard to give any credit to this ruling. It doesn't mean much. In fact, the High Court shouldn't have interfered at all in this issue. The prospect of the military starting to draft seminary students could widen cracks in Netanyahu's increasingly brittle coalition. Some voiced hopes that all parties will work together on the conscription issue. Ariel Kalner is from Netanyahu's own Likud party. We are committed in the Knesset to the IDF needs, but we are also committed that the Haredim, that the ultra-Orthodox community will feel comfortable in the army and will not feel a threat on their beliefs, and they will be able to enter the army as ultra-Orthodox and go out of the army as ultra-Orthodox, and this is our commitment and we are going to work on it. Opposition parties have welcomed the ruling. The ultra-Orthodox conscription waiver has come at a time when Israel's armed forces are overstretched due to the multi-front war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israelis are bound by law to serve in the military from the age of 18, three years for men and two years for women. Members of Israel's Arab minority are exempt, though some do serve. And ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students have also been largely exempt for decades. The law for their exemption expired last year, but the government continued to allow them not to serve. In the absence of a new legal basis for the exemption, the Supreme Court's ruling means the state must draft them. Ultra-Orthodox leaders see the exemptions as vital for preserving their traditions. The long-standing military waiver has sparked protests in recent months by Israelis angry that they are shouldering the risk of fighting the war in Gaza. Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators have taken to the streets, blocking roads and marching with signs and banners. The ultra-Orthodox community makes up 13% of Israel's 10 million population, a figure expected to climb due to their high birth rates.

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