Israeli Government Addresses Ultra-Orthodox Military Conscription Exemptions Amid Legal and Public Pressure

Israeli Government Addresses Ultra-Orthodox Military Conscription Exemptions

Discussions surrounding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews into the Israeli army are currently impacting the Israeli government and national discourse. Public sentiment regarding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men has evolved following recent conflicts, posing a significant political challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The exemption for ultra-Orthodox men enrolled in full-time religious study was established when the State of Israel was declared in 1948. This exemption was subsequently ruled illegal by Israel's High Court of Justice nearly two decades ago. Temporary arrangements allowing the exemption were formally concluded by the court last year, prompting the government to initiate the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men. In the past year, approximately 24,000 draft notices were issued; however, military testimony indicates that only about 1,200 ultra-Orthodox draftees reported for duty.

Recent debates in the Knesset (parliament) regarding a new draft bill to mandate military service for ultra-Orthodox men alongside other Israeli Jews have led to public demonstrations. This month, two Haredi politicians were targeted by some ultra-Orthodox protesters. Last week, a special Border Police unit intervened to rescue Military Police officers who were targeted by a crowd of Haredi men while attempting to arrest a suspected draft-evader. A messaging system named "Black Alert" has been established to quickly disseminate information within ultra-Orthodox communities and mobilize protesters to prevent arrests.

A large protest involving tens of thousands of Haredi men occurred in Jerusalem last month, with participants viewing the issue as part of a broader discussion on the identity of the Jewish state and the role of religion within it. Shmuel Orbach, a protester, stated, "You can't fight against Judaism in a Jewish country. It doesn't work."

Inside the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva in Bnei Brak, students continue to study Judaism's religious laws. Rabbi Tzemach Mazuz, head of the yeshiva, stated that continuous prayer and religious study protect Israel's soldiers and are as crucial as military hardware. He acknowledged societal changes, noting, "Today, many in the government and the Knesset have distanced themselves from religion. They say yeshiva students are lazy, which is not true." Rabbi Mazuz questioned why focus was placed on yeshiva students when, in his view, there were other individuals in Tel Aviv who did not serve.

Over the past seven decades, the ultra-Orthodox population has more than doubled its share of Israel's total population, now constituting 14%. The initial exemption for a few hundred religious students had expanded to approximately 60,000 men by the commencement of the Gaza war. Opinion polls indicate increasing support for ultra-Orthodox conscription. A July survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 85% of non-Haredi Jews, including nearly 75% of those in Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party, supported sanctions for individuals refusing a draft order. A majority favored withdrawing benefits, passports, or voting rights.

Statements from the public reflect this sentiment. An off-duty soldier in Tel Aviv expressed, "It makes me feel there are people who live in this country without giving anything back." Another resident, Gabby, stated, "I don't think, however religious you are, [it] should be an excuse not to go and serve your country."

Dorit Barak, a religious Jew living near the yeshiva in Bnei Brak, supports extending the draft and references the Hebrew saying "Safra and Saifa" (The Book and the Sword), advocating for a combination of religious study and military service. Ms. Barak maintains a memorial in Bnei Brak for local soldiers killed in past conflicts. She noted that the last soldier from the neighborhood died in 1983, attributing this to a demographic shift where the area has become predominantly ultra-Orthodox, with fewer residents serving in the military.

The Israel Defense Forces maintains special units for the small number of ultra-Orthodox men who currently choose to serve. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced in October that the new draft bill aims to draft 10,000 yeshiva students within two years, describing it as "a real revolution."

Ultra-Orthodox parties are essential coalition partners for Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. A key demand from these parties in exchange for their support is the continuation of military draft exemptions for their constituents. This issue has led to the collapse of Netanyahu's governments on two previous occasions. The current draft bill is an attempt to navigate this challenge or to gain time before elections scheduled for next year. Lawmaker Boaz Bismuth, a Netanyahu loyalist, described the bill as