Netanyahu Commits to Overhauling Military Exemption Rules for Ultra-Orthodox
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday his government’s commitment to reform the current exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, addressing a contentious issue that has implications for his coalition’s stability. “We will establish objectives for the induction of ultra-Orthodox individuals into the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and national civil service, and devise methods for achieving these goals,” Netanyahu stated during a press briefing.
This move comes in response to the Israeli Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that invalidated the law exempting ultra-Orthodox men from the draft, highlighting the necessity for military service obligations to be equitably distributed among all segments of Israeli society. Despite the court’s ruling, the parliament has been unable to formulate a new policy, and a temporary government measure postponing the mandatory conscription of ultra-Orthodox men is set to expire in March.
Ultra-Orthodox parties, crucial to Netanyahu’s slender majority in parliament alongside far-right nationalist factions, have historically conditioned their coalition participation on maintaining draft exemptions. However, Netanyahu’s announcement appears to counter his defense minister’s vow to block any legislation that would extend these exemptions without a clear framework for ultra-Orthodox enlistment.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, emphasizing the balance between religious dedication and national duty, stated, “While we recognize and support the commitment to studying Jewish holy texts, we also believe that spiritual existence cannot be sustained without physical security.”
The debate over exemptions has intensified, particularly in light of the significant resources allocated for the Gaza war, exacerbating tensions with Israel’s more secular populace. Critics within the ultra-Orthodox community argue that military service conflicts with their religious practices or express ideological objections to serving in a liberal state.
With ultra-Orthodox Jews currently representing 13% of the population—a figure projected to rise to 19% by 2035 due to high birth rates—the economic implications of the exemption policy are also under scrutiny. Analysts suggest that the draft exemption contributes to the prolonged absence of many ultra-Orthodox men from the labor market, as they remain in seminaries rather than joining the workforce.
