The Israeli military will begin issuing military draft summons to ultra-Orthodox seminary students who were previously exempt from military service. This decision comes at a sensitive time, with the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza and related fighting on other fronts causing significant casualties among secular draftees and reservists.
In June, Israel’s Supreme Court mandated the government to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the military, creating new political tensions for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The issue of exemptions for ultra-Orthodox individuals has long been a contentious one, with Netanyahu’s coalition including two ultra-Orthodox parties that view these exemptions as crucial to maintaining their constituents in religious seminaries and away from the military.
The upcoming July recruitment cycle will see the Israeli military issuing initial summons orders for the first call-up of ultra-Orthodox seminary students. This move is likely to be met with resistance from the ultra-Orthodox community, which makes up 13 percent of Israel’s population and is expected to grow to 19 percent by 2035. The refusal of many ultra-Orthodox individuals to serve in the military, despite generally supporting the wars in which Israel is engaged, has long been a source of division within Israeli society.
It is worth noting that Israel’s Arab minority, which makes up 21 percent of the population, is also largely exempt from the military draft. Men and women in Israel are typically called up for military service at the age of 18, with men serving for 32 months and women for 24 months. The exemptions granted to both ultra-Orthodox individuals and Arab citizens have been a subject of debate and controversy in Israel for many years.
The decision to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox seminary students into the military reflects a shift in Israeli policy and a recognition of the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to national service. The current conflict with Hamas and other militant groups has underscored the importance of a united and cohesive military force that represents all segments of Israeli society.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will face challenges in balancing the demands of his coalition partners with the need to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on military service for ultra-Orthodox individuals. The coming months will be crucial in determining how this issue is resolved and what impact it will have on Israel’s military and social fabric.
As Israel moves forward with its plans to draft ultra-Orthodox seminary students into the military, it is clear that this decision will have far-reaching implications for the country’s future. The integration of all segments of Israeli society into the military is essential for building a strong and united nation that can effectively defend itself against external threats.