Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has approved a plan to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, a decision that may strain relations within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. The bill, aimed at integrating ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli military, has sparked protests.
Currently, two ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu’s government rely on conscription exemptions to keep their constituents in religious seminaries. However, the military is in need of bolstering its ranks due to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
After discussions with military officials, Gallant approved the first call-up of ultra-Orthodox men for screening and evaluation, with the potential for military service starting at the age of 18. This decision comes after the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox seminary students must also be drafted.
The move has led to protests from Israelis who believe in equal sharing of military risk, while ultra-Orthodox protesters have taken to the streets under the slogan “death before conscription”.