Israel Katz approves 7,000 Haredi draft orders, sparks outrage
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The Israeli occupation military has confirmed that the first 1,000 orders will be issued on Sunday, with the remainder distributed over the coming months.
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Ultra-Orthodox men protest against the conscription of Haredim to the Israeli military in occupied al-Quds, on October 31, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz approved the issuance of 7,000 enlistment orders for ultra-Orthodox Israelis, set to begin next week, drawing sharp criticism from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, a key coalition partner, The Times of Israel reported Friday.
The decision, originally made by former Security Minister Yoav Gallant before his dismissal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was upheld by Katz despite expectations of its reversal.
The Israeli occupation military confirmed that the first 1,000 orders will be issued on Sunday, with the remainder distributed over the coming months.
Katz stated that his Ministry aims to engage in "an in-depth dialogue" with all stakeholders to foster the integration of ultra-Orthodox recruits into the military while respecting their religious practices. He also pledged to create a "supportive environment" for their service.
The ultra-Orthodox community has long resisted mandatory conscription, advocating instead for military exemptions for yeshiva students. These exemptions, in place for decades, were ruled illegal by the High Court in June, prompting calls from UTJ and Shas parties for legislation to formalize the arrangement.
The two coalition parties have accused Gallant and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of obstructing progress on such a bill, but following Katz’s decision, a senior UTJ official criticized Netanyahu's Likud, accusing the party of deciding to "declare war on the ultra-Orthodox."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, however, commended Katz, stating on X, "I said in the Knesset that if you send the 7,000 draft orders to the ultra-Orthodox, soldiers and reservists will know that you are there for them. You did it without shying away.”
The Israeli military reported an increase in ultra-Orthodox enlistments this year but acknowledged challenges in meeting conscription targets. While the military seeks 10,000 additional soldiers, including 75% combat troops, it can only accommodate 3,000 new ultra-Orthodox recruits due to their unique needs. Currently, about 1,800 Haredi soldiers are drafted annually.
A summer decision saw 3,000 draft orders sent to Haredi men aged 18–26, but less than 10% responded. The ongoing debate over ultra-Orthodox military service remains one of the occupation entity's most contentious issues, with opposition rooted in fears of secularization and perceived incompatibility with religious life.
Meanwhile, Israelis who serve argue that mass exemptions unfairly burden them, a concern amplified by the ongoing war, which has killed around 800 Israeli soldiers and called up 300,000 reservists.
Read more: 793 troops killed since start of war, IOF say, amid manpower shortage
