Daijiworld Media Network -Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv, Dec 3: Israel is facing a major political crisis as the government grapples with the contentious issue of conscripting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army. The debate, reignited after two years of war, threatens to deepen divisions within the country and poses a significant challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lawmakers are considering a draft bill aimed at ending the exemption historically granted to ultra-Orthodox men engaged in full-time religious study, an arrangement in place since Israel’s founding in 1948. While the High Court of Justice ruled the exemption illegal nearly two decades ago, temporary arrangements had allowed it to continue until last year, when the court formally ended them, compelling the government to begin drafting the community.
Last year, around 24,000 draft notices were issued, yet only about 1,200 ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi men, reported for duty, according to military testimony presented to parliament. The slow uptake has sparked rising tensions, with protests and violent incidents reported in recent weeks. Some Haredi politicians have been targeted by extremists, and a special Border Police unit had to intervene to protect military police officers attempting to arrest suspected draft-evaders.
A new messaging system, “Black Alert,” has emerged to mobilize ultra-Orthodox communities quickly to prevent such arrests. Large-scale demonstrations, including tens of thousands of Haredi men in Jerusalem, underscore the conflict as not merely about military service, but also about the identity of the Jewish state and the role of religion within it.
Despite the upheaval, life continues inside ultra-Orthodox institutions like the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva in Bnei Brak. Rabbi Tzemach Mazuz, head of the yeshiva, told reporters that continuous Torah study and prayer are considered by the community to protect Israeli soldiers in the field. “By studying Torah, we protect the soldiers wherever they are. This is our army,” he said. He added that criticisms of yeshiva students as “lazy” are unfounded, pointing instead to large numbers of draft-dodgers in Tel Aviv.
The ultra-Orthodox population, now accounting for 14% of Israel’s population, has grown substantially over seven decades, and the exemption has expanded from a few hundred students to around 60,000 men. Public sentiment, however, is shifting. A July survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 85% of non-Haredi Jews—including nearly three-quarters of Netanyahu’s Likud party—support sanctions against those refusing the draft, with many favouring withdrawal of benefits, passports, or voting rights.
On the streets of Tel Aviv, young Israelis expressed frustration over the exemption. “It makes me feel there are people who live in this country without giving anything back,” said an off-duty soldier. Gabby, another local, said, “I don’t think, however religious you are, [it] should be an excuse not to go and serve your country. If you’re born here, I find it quite ridiculous that you want to exempt yourself just to study Torah all day.”
As Israel navigates this politically explosive issue, the challenge remains balancing religious tradition with national security and societal equity, making the ultra-Orthodox draft a pivotal topic in the country’s ongoing discourse.