The Israeli military is set to issue draft notices to 1,000 members of the ultra-Orthodox community on Sunday, July 21, marking a significant shift following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Strong Opposition
Last month, the court ordered the Defense Ministry to end the long-standing exemption for yeshiva students, which was established when Israel was founded and the number of religious students was relatively small.
According to Ziare this move has met strong opposition from the two religious parties within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, creating internal tensions following the 2022 elections. Leaders of the rapidly growing ultra-Orthodox community argue that forcing seminary students to serve alongside secular Israelis, including women, threatens their religious identity. Some rabbis have even urged community members to burn their draft notices if received.
Required by Law
Following the initial wave of draft notifications, another 2,000 ultra-Orthodox recruits are expected to be called up in the coming weeks. The government is still working on a new draft law that could offer a limited compromise and address the issue without destabilizing the coalition.
The timing is particularly sensitive as the Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza, more than nine months after a Hamas attack on October 7, and faces escalating tensions with Lebanon. This has increased pressure from the military and secular Israelis to standardize mandatory service requirements.
In Israel, all citizens are required by law to serve in the military at the age of 18 for a period of 24 to 32 months. However, the 21% Arab minority is largely exempt, although some do serve voluntarily. While not all ultra-Orthodox Jews refuse military service—the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have created special units for them—resistance to the draft has sparked weeks of protests.
