Israel’s Divisive Battle Over Ultra-Orthodox Military Conscription Intensifies

The Israeli military is set to draft 1,000 ultra-Orthodox members, following a Supreme Court ruling to end their exemption from military service. This move has sparked opposition from religious parties, stressing the coalition government. Amid ongoing conflicts, further conscriptions and a possible conscription law stir public controversy.

The Israeli military is poised to issue call-up notices to 1,000 members of the ultra-Orthodox community on Sunday, initiating a new phase in the contentious debate over drafting the religious Haredim into the army. This development follows a Supreme Court ruling mandating the defense ministry to revoke military service exemptions for Jewish seminary students, a policy dating back to Israel's early years when their numbers were minimal.

This action has faced fierce opposition from the ultra-Orthodox parties within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, exacerbating strains within the right-wing coalition established post-2022 elections. Ultra-Orthodox leaders argue that conscripting seminary students alongside secular Israelis, including women, could undermine their religious identity. Some rabbis have even advised members of their community to burn call-up notices in protest.

As the first batch of call-ups is issued, additional notices for an overall total of 3,000 ultra-Orthodox conscripts are expected in the coming weeks. The government is striving to pass a conscription law that could offer a compromise and avert coalition instability. With the Israeli military engaged in ongoing conflicts in Gaza and facing potential threats from Lebanon, the pressure to distribute military service obligations more evenly has intensified. While not all Haredim refuse to serve, the draft has ignited weeks of protests and public outcry.

(With inputs from agencies.)