The Israeli military recently announced its plan to begin sending draft notices to Jewish ultra-Orthodox men starting next week. This decision, a response to a Supreme Court ruling ordering religious men to start enlisting for military service, could potentially put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government at risk and result in further protests within the ultra-Orthodox community.
For years, Jewish ultra-Orthodox men have been exempt from the mandatory military draft, causing resentment among the wider Israeli public, particularly following prolonged conflicts with Hamas militants in Gaza. The military summons marks the initial stage of a complex enlistment process that could face challenges if there is significant non-compliance.
The Supreme Court deemed the exemption system discriminatory, as it allowed religious men to pursue studies in Jewish seminaries instead of serving in the army like most Jewish men. Ultra-Orthodox leaders argue that religious education is crucial for the nation’s future and fear that their traditional way of life will be jeopardized by military service.
Netanyahu’s government relies on the support of ultra-Orthodox political parties that oppose reforming the exemption system. The response from religious leaders to the draft notices remains unclear, and any withdrawal of ultra-Orthodox parties from the ruling coalition could lead to the government’s collapse and early elections.
The military’s decision could also spark unrest within the ultra-Orthodox communities, as previous attempts to conscript religious men have prompted mass protests. A demonstration against the draft was scheduled in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, where on Monday night, a group of ultra-Orthodox individuals encircled senior military commanders’ cars and threatened them during a meeting with local rabbis, labeling the officers as “murderers” and hurling bottles according to Israeli media reports.
