Conflicts
Israel: Conscription exemption for religious men expires
According to observers, the dispute over compulsory military service could endanger Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in the medium term. photo
© Ohad Zwigenberg/AP/dpa
The dispute over compulsory military service in Israel, which has been simmering for decades, has recently escalated dramatically.
Exceptions for ultra-Orthodox have been in effect for decades Men in Israel’s military conscription left at midnight (local time) on Sunday. The government of right-wing conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to pass a law that would cement the relief measures.
From Monday onwards, according to an interim order from the Supreme Court, state subsidies for ultra-Orthodox men of military age who study in religious schools will be canceled.
According to a decision by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, the military is also obliged to immediately draft in religious students who have previously been largely exempt. According to media reports, there are more than 60,000 men. However, the military is not expected to immediately send them muster notices, even though the army has reportedly been short of soldiers since the start of the Gaza war.
Gaza war has deepened the divide
The dispute over compulsory military service, which has been simmering for decades, has recently escalated dramatically and, according to observers, could endanger Netanyahu’s coalition in the medium term. This is also based on strictly religious partners who strictly reject the drafting of young men from their community.
The court is scheduled to discuss the matter further in May. A law allowing most ultra-Orthodox men not to serve in the army expired last year. The government then extended the regulation until the end of March. However, the coalition has not yet succeeded in passing a new law. Critics denounced the current relief measures as unfair. The Gaza war has further deepened the gap between the camps.
In Israel, men have to do military service for three years and women for two years. The government coalition had already broken up in 2018 due to the dispute over a law that would gradually require more strictly religious men to serve as weapons. But there are also ultra-Orthodox men who serve voluntarily. Strictly religious women are only recruited on a voluntary basis.