Israeli Supreme Court rules end of military exemption for young ultra-Orthodox Jews
Israel’s Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling this Tuesday ending the military exemption for young ultra-Orthodox Jews, a measure that has generated controversy in Israeli society, especially since the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The Court has determined that there is no legal basis for excluding ultra-Orthodox men from military conscription. It has also ruled that if they do not perform military service, they will also not be entitled to receive publicly funded educational and social assistance grants.
Implications of the ruling
It is not yet clear whether this decision will involve the immediate conscription of the approximately 67,000 eligible men, equivalent to five military divisions, for conscription at this time, or whether it will be a gradual process.
The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and Judaism United for Torah (JUT), strongly oppose the recruitment of young Torah scholars and have threatened to leave the government coalition if the measure is implemented, putting their stability at risk. since they provide 18 vital seats.
Background and controversies
The military exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews is not a law, but rather an executive provision that has been periodically renewed since the founding of the State of Israel. However, several court rulings have indicated that this exemption violates the principle of equality enshrined in Israeli basic law.
The Supreme Court began the process of hearing arguments on the military exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews in early June. The issue has created significant divisions in Israeli society and within the government.
Debate on the need for more troops
Following the massive mobilization of some 300,000 reservists for the nearly nine-month-old conflict in Gaza, many Israelis have expressed the need for all young people in Israel to complete mandatory military service. However, Netanyahu’s government depends on the support of two ultra-Orthodox parties, while members of the Likud and far-right formations within the coalition are in favor of ending the exemption.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stressed the national need to extend the service time of standing army and reservist soldiers, raising the urgency of making decisions unprecedented in 75 years.