Israel’s Supreme Court has made a unanimous decision that haredi Orthodox Jews must be drafted into the country’s army. This ruling has the potential to shake up Israeli politics, especially since it comes at a time of war in Gaza and social unrest at home. With over 60,000 fervently Orthodox men set to be drafted, the decision could lead to significant changes in military procedures, mass protests from the haredi community, and even the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which includes haredi parties that strongly oppose mandatory haredi conscription.
For years, Israel has granted exemptions to young men studying full-time in yeshivas, a policy that was originally implemented when the number of people in this category was relatively low. However, as the haredi Orthodox population has grown, the debate over these exemptions has intensified, leading to political turmoil and the downfall of multiple governments.
Despite public support for conscripting haredim, previous attempts to do so have failed. Supporters argue that the exemptions create inequality in Israeli society and deprive the Israel Defense Forces of much-needed manpower.
Haredi leaders, on the other hand, believe that Torah study is valuable and serves to protect the state. They argue that accommodating the religious needs of haredi men would be burdensome for the army. Last year, haredi leaders supported Netanyahu’s efforts to limit the power of the Supreme Court in order to avoid a ruling like the one handed down on Tuesday.
With concerns over manpower and inequality heightened by the war against Hamas, the Supreme Court’s ruling has mandated the conscription of haredi men and the end of government funding for yeshivas that enroll haredi students instead of having them serve in the army. The judges cited the ongoing war as a reason for their decision.
While the specifics of how and when the ruling will be implemented are still unclear, religious party leaders have already expressed their opposition and vowed to fight against it. Some fear that the ruling could lead to a divide between haredi and non-haredi Jews, creating “two states” within Israeli society.
Despite the backlash from religious parties, the ruling has been applauded by critics of the exemptions, who see it as a step towards greater equality and national duty. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a nonprofit organization that has been advocating for this change for years, hailed the decision as a historic moment for the country.
Overall, the Supreme Court’s ruling on haredi conscription marks a significant shift in Israeli policy and has the potential to bring about lasting change in the country’s military and social landscape.