'Israel' to draft 50% of ultra-Orthodox men into military service
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According to Israeli news portal Ynet, the occupation aims to achieve the 50% conscription target by 2031.
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Ultra-Orthodox Israeli settlers approach Bab al-Khalil in occupied Al-Quds, on Friday, November 22, 2024. (AP)
"Israel" plans to conscript about 50% of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into military service within seven years under a new draft law, Security Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday.
The proposed legislation, which includes penalties for non-compliance, marks a significant shift in the decades-long debate over military exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community.
New guidelines for conscription
Katz presented the draft law to the parliament's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, outlining a strategy to integrate ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).
"The plan is to draft about 50% of the Orthodox men," Katz said, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan.
The law will impose sanctions on yeshivas (religious schools) whose students fail to enlist and on individuals who ignore enlistment notices or fail to report to military registration.
Read more: Lapid calls for penalties against Haredim refusing military service
Supreme Court intervention
The legislation follows a landmark 2017 ruling by "Israel's" Supreme Court, which overturned long-standing military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, citing violations of equality.
For decades, ultra-Orthodox men studying in yeshivas were exempt from "Israel's" compulsory military service, a policy that has sparked resentment among "secular" Israelis who argue that it places an unfair burden on the rest of society.
In June 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the leadership to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the IOF, putting pressure on lawmakers to implement measures ensuring equal contribution to national service.
Years of Delays
Since the 2017 ruling, successive Israeli leaderships have postponed implementing the changes, citing political sensitivities and opposition from ultra-Orthodox leaders.
The ultra-Orthodox community, which constitutes about 13% of "Israel's" population, has traditionally resisted conscription, arguing that military service would interfere with their religious studies and way of life.
Read more: Israeli military command issues 1,126 arrest warrants for Haredim men
The new draft law is expected to face backlash from ultra-Orthodox political parties, which have significant influence in "Israel's" coalition government.
The proposal has already sparked heated debate, with "secular" Israelis supporting the move as a long-overdue step toward fairness and ultra-Orthodox leaders opposing it as an attack on their religious freedoms.
Implementation Timeline
According to Israeli news portal Ynet, the occupation aims to achieve the 50% conscription target by 2031.
In the meantime, both the public and political arenas are bracing for intense debate over this contentious issue, which has implications for Israeli society, politics, and the military.
