Israel’s supreme court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students to the conscript military, a decree likely to send shock waves through prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
Mr Netanyahu’s coalition relies for its survival on two ultra-Orthodox parties that regard long-standing conscription exemptions as key to keeping their constituents in religious seminaries and away from a melting-pot military that might test their conservative customs.
The ultra-Orthodox conscription waiver has become especially charged as Israel's armed forces, made up mostly of teenaged conscripts and older civilians mobilised for reserve duty, are overstretched by a multi-front war, in Gaza and Lebanon.
“At the height of a difficult war, the burden of inequality is more than ever acute,” the court's unanimous ruling said.
Israel mounts heavy strikes on Beirut suburbs as defence minister rules out ceasefire
Simon Harris and Donald Trump agree to ‘keep in touch’ in call covering Middle East and Ukraine conflicts
Israeli fire ‘kills 30 Palestinians’ as tanks roll into central Gaza camp
Amsterdam extends protest ban as bid to clarify root of ‘anti-Semitic’ violence continues
Most Israelis are bound by law to serve in the military, whereas ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students have been largely exempt for decades. – Reuters
[ Israeli airstrikes kill at least 24 in Gaza City, say Gaza officialsOpens in new window ]
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024