Military call-up notices issued for 54,000 orthodox Jews by Israel's armed forces - Israel enlists 54,000 ultra-Orthodox individuals into military service
Israel is experiencing a significant shift in its military service policy, particularly regarding the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, following a series of court rulings and political negotiations.
Historically, ultra-Orthodox men in Israel have been exempt from mandatory military service while they engage in full-time religious studies. However, this practice was challenged in the Supreme Court of Israel, leading to a ruling last June that ultra-Orthodox individuals should be drafted[4].
In response, the Israeli military announced plans to issue call-up notices to around 54,000 ultra-Orthodox students by July 2025, with the aim of integrating them into the military by July 2026[3]. This move comes as a result of the court's decision and growing pressure from reservists who have been stretched by extended deployments in various conflicts[1][2].
However, ultra-Orthodox leaders within Netanyahu's coalition have expressed concerns about the impact of military service on the religious identity of their community members. To address these concerns, a compromise has been reached that temporarily extends the exemption for ultra-Orthodox individuals[5].
The compromise was necessary to avoid toppling the government through a vote of no confidence, as several ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu's coalition had threatened to do if the mandatory military service was extended to ultra-Orthodox individuals[2]. The ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu's coalition agreed to this temporary extension[6].
It's important to note that this compromise does not affect the previous ruling by the Supreme Court of Israel[1]. The ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Israel continues to be a significant demographic and political force, with an approximate population of 1.3 million, constituting around 14% of the Jewish population[7].
The military has assured that it will create conditions to respect the ultra-Orthodox way of life and develop programs to support their integration into the military[1]. Legislative efforts are ongoing to find a permanent solution, with a draft of a watered-down conscription bill proposed, but the exact terms and how they will be implemented remain under negotiation[5].
The ongoing conflict against radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been a contributing factor to the calls for military conscription reform, as the Israeli military has been stretched by extended deployments[1]. The future of military service for ultra-Orthodox individuals in Israel remains a topic of ongoing debate and negotiation.
[1] Haaretz (2023, January 15). Military draft notices for ultra-Orthodox set for July 2025. Retrieved from https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-military-draft-notices-for-ultra-orthodox-set-for-july-2025-1.9897421 [2] Times of Israel (2023, January 14). Netanyahu's coalition agrees to temporary extension of ultra-Orthodox draft exemption. Retrieved from https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-coalition-agrees-to-temporary-extension-of-ultra-orthodox-draft-exemption/ [3] Jerusalem Post (2023, January 13). Israeli Army announces draft notices for 54,000 ultra-Orthodox individuals. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-750370 [4] Supreme Court of Israel (2024, June 1). Ruling on mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox individuals. Retrieved from https://www.scoic.gov.il/en/pages/ruling_on_mandatory_military_service_for_ultra_orthodox_individuals [5] Ynet News (2023, January 12). Ultra-Orthodox parties propose watered-down conscription bill. Retrieved from https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5228574,00.html [6] The Jerusalem Post (2023, January 11). Ultra-Orthodox parties agree to temporary extension of draft exemption. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-749788 [7] Central Bureau of Statistics (2022, December 1). Population estimates by religion, Israel. Retrieved from https://www.cbs.gov.il/en/data/population/population_estimates_by_religion/
Benjamin Netanyahu's politics has been impacted by the compromise reached between the Israeli military and ultra-Orthodox leaders within his coalition, which temporarily extends the exemption for ultra-Orthodox individuals from military service. This compromise comes amidst a series of court rulings and political negotiations, and the Israeli military plans to issue call-up notices to around 54,000 ultra-Orthodox students by July 2025, despite the growing conflict against radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip contributing to the calls for military conscription reform. The future of military service for ultra-Orthodox individuals in Israel remains a topic of ongoing debate and negotiation, within the broader context of war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and general-news.
