Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled to end the military service exemption granted to ultra-Orthodox students – a move that could fuel tensions around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
The unanimous ruling of the Israeli Supreme Court ends decades-long exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students of Talmudic schools from serving in the armed forces.
Israel’s highest court has ruled that in the absence of specific legislation, the law on compulsory military service was to apply equally to all citizens, including the ultra-Orthodox.
The war in Gaza has led to the mobilization of many soldiers, more than 600 of whom have been killed since October.
The ultra-Orthodox parties, politically influential and an integral part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, oppose this change and could leave the coalition if the exemptions end.
The ultra-Orthodox community views full-time religious study as its contribution to the state and fears that military service may cause it to deviate from its strict religious observance.
Lately, The Israeli prime minister has struggled to strike a balance between respecting court rulings and maintaining his coalitionwhich has a slim majority in Parliament.
New recruits will represent less than 10% of conscripts
Most Jewish men and women in Israel are required to complete their compulsory military service at the age of 18. But the ultra-Orthodox previously benefited from exemptions if they studied full-time in religious seminaries.
This exception has angered much of the Israeli population, as hundreds of soldiers have been killed in the war against Hamas.
The Court also decided to maintain suspension of state subsidies for educational institutions serving ultra-Orthodox mena move that could increase tensions within the coalition and increase pressure on lawmakers from their religious leaders and constituents.
Following this decision, the ultra-Orthodox community will provide each year around 13,000 men of conscript age, or less than 10% of the total number of conscripts.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel called on the government to immediately enlist all eligible ultra-Orthodox seminary students, emphasizing their legal and moral duty in light of security requirements.