Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the army. Tuesday’s ruling ends a system that allowed them to avoid enlisting in required military service. But opposition to the decision could shake the current coalition government.
Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women. Men must perform active duty service for three years. Women serve for two years. Israelis must also serve on reserve duty until around age 40.
Israel’s roughly 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews oppose enlistment. Many men study full time in religious seminaries. They believe that is their most important duty. The sect also limits contact with outsiders to preserve its religious beliefs and customs. Since Israel’s 1948 founding, the ultra-Orthodox have been excused from military service.
In 2017, the court ruled such exemptions were illegal. Yet extensions and delays prevented passage of a replacement law. Court extensions officially expired last year. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government continued to permit ultra-Orthodox to avoid service.
This week, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the military service rule applies to the ultra-Orthodox just like other Israelis. The judges said that allowing the community a “sweeping avoidance” amounted to discrimination.
Those exemptions have infuriated much of the general public. Many Israelis find them particularly grating as the war in Gaza continues. Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, over 600 soldiers have died. Many reserve soldiers are starting a second tour of duty.
The exemptions—and now the ruling—have shaken Netanyahu’s fragile coalition.
Approval for the prime minister is low. The war in Gaza drags into its ninth month. His coalition holds a slim majority in Israel’s parliament. The narrow margin often requires Netanyahu to give in to the demands of smaller parties like those of the ultra-Orthodox. Those parties might now pull support from the current government. If that happens, the country would likely need elections in the fall to form a new government.
Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf heads one of the ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu’s coalition. Goldknopf called the Supreme Court’s ruling “very unfortunate and disappointing.” He did not say whether his party would leave the government.
The chairman of another ultra-Orthodox party also criticized the ruling. Aryeh Deri calls religious study “our secret weapon against all enemies.”
Integrating a large number of ultra-Orthodox into the army will be challenging. The ultra-Orthodox claim the army will threaten their way of life. Many believe their devout lifestyle and dedication to upholding Jewish law protect Israel as much as a strong army does.
“The general assumption is that the [current] government will not survive this crisis,” says Barak Medina. He is a law professor at Hebrew University.
On the other hand, Medina says with less pressure from ultra-Orthodox factions, Netanyahu could have more freedom to reach a ceasefire. The prime minister will also face pressure to wrap up fighting if an early vote is called. He and allies would likely seek to avoid entering elections while the war is ongoing.
