The Israeli parliament has approved a bill to increase military conscription among ultra-Orthodox Israelis, with a vote of 63-57. The legislation, initiated by Benny Gantz, aims to gradually remove exemptions for Torah study. While the bill lowers the age of exemption from 26 to 21, it faced criticism for not going far enough to enforce conscription.
Currently, ultra-Orthodox individuals can defer military service by enrolling in Talmudic schools, with full exemption at age 26. Parties within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, such as Shas and United Torah Judaism, oppose these changes. However, far-right parties supported the bill to influence modifications during review.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant notably opposed the bill, while Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot resigned from the war cabinet. Critics, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, argue for a more comprehensive approach to conscription to address security and societal needs.