Israel’s Defense Ministry To Finalize Ultra-Orthodox Draft Plan
Israel’s Defense Ministry plans to finalize a strategy within a few weeks to draft Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) citizens into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to a deposition filed by the State Attorney’s Office to the High Court of Justice on Wednesday.
The defense minister has chaired meetings aimed at reaching a law that would establish regulations “with broad agreement” on drafting haredim into the IDF. The state’s legal authority to exempt Haredim from military service expired at the end of March. On March 28, the High Court of Justice issued temporary orders to end the blanket exemption for Haredim and cease state funding for yeshivot, religious schools, whose students’ military exemption is no longer valid. The court will decide on June 2 whether to make these orders permanent.
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Haredi men have largely avoided military service since Israel’s establishment in 1948. The exemption is politically controversial, and many ultra-Orthodox leaders have threatened to leave the government if the issue is not resolved to their satisfaction. While most Haredi politicians insist on continuing the exemption, some are open to drafting men who, in violation of the legal terms for the exemption, do not study in yeshivot.
The Defense Ministry aims to ease the burden of increased security needs in the ongoing conflict against Hamas by potentially broadening the draft. The ministry’s draft plan will be gradual and include provisions for immediate and long-term recruitment.
