'Israel's' ultra-orthodox jews face new military draft push: WSJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Wall Street Journal
5 Sep 2024 23:48

Efforts on the part of Israeli forces to recruit Haredim, including special units and promises of career advancement, have seen limited success.

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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men stand in front of the IOF recruitment office during a protest against a potential new draft law which could end their exemptions from military service in occupied al-Quds, Wednesday, August 28, 2024. (AP)

The Wall Street Journal published a report on Thursday detailing the growing tension between "Israel's" ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community and the Israeli military over conscription.

Following a Supreme Court ruling, the military is set to draft thousands of Haredi men who had previously been exempt due to their religious studies.

While some are eager to serve, as claimed by WSJ, many others strongly oppose enlistment, fearing it would force them to assimilate into secular Israeli culture.

Yechiel Wais, a 19-year-old from an ultra-Orthodox family, expressed excitement about joining the military, saying he couldn't sleep the night before and hoped to serve in an Air Force unit.

Shlomo Roth, also 19 and ultra-Orthodox, strongly opposed military service, stating, "For us, being in the army is worse than death."

Israel Cohen, a Haredi political commentator, pointed out the growing mainstream opposition within the Haredi community toward conscription, a stance that has intensified after the Supreme Court mandated the draft of thousands of Haredi men.

The military's struggle for manpower due to "Israel's" multi-front war further complicates the issue.

Efforts to recruit Haredim, including special units and promises of career advancement, have seen limited success.

The report highlights how this growing divide between secular and religious Israelis threatens to escalate tensions, particularly as the Haredi population grows, representing an increasing portion of the draft pool.

Of the 1,3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews currently living in occupied Palestine, around 80,000 are of eligible draft age.

By 2050, experts project that ultra-Orthodox men will make up 41% of "Israel's" draft-eligible population, intensifying the need to address the conscription issue.

"I don't say that every Haredi has to enlist," Haredi Moti Kaminshtein told WSJ. "I say that enlisting in the army doesn’t hurt being Haredi."

The Israeli regime faces pressure to resolve the issue, especially as the war on Gaza and the fronts with Lebanon and the West Bank continue to stretch the military's resources.