In an attempt to shore up its military posture as tensions heighten on both its southern and northern borders, Israel has begun to issue additional draft notices to the ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, community. The measure, effective after the Supreme Court ruling, will further widen the already-existent polarities between the religious and secular parts of the country.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews May Face Increased Draft Notices

New Draft Notices Following Supreme Court Ruling

The call-ups follow a landmark ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court last June, which stated that the Defense Ministry could no longer automatically exempt students of Jewish seminaries from military service. Exemptions had been automatic since Israel’s founding in 1948 when its ultra-Orthodox population was much smaller.

With Israel currently locked in conflicts against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Defense Ministry said on Friday that an additional 7,000 ultra-Orthodox community members would be gradually called up, starting on Sunday. This follows a preliminary draft of 1,000 ultra-Orthodox men last July.

The Balance Between Military Service and Religious Practice

It conceded to the sensibility of drafting ultra-Orthodox men, most of whom follow strict religious practices, that the Defense Ministry promised to work closely with community leaders. A ministry spokesman said it would do its utmost to ensure they could maintain their lifestyle when they serve. The step is seen as an attempt to balance national defence needs and preserve religious values among the ultra-Orthodox community.

However, it is a controversial issue, and against those voices are those raised by the religious world. Against this backdrop, the leaders of the ultra-Orthodox community, which has increased in recent years, have voiced their fear that making the seminary young students serve in the military alongside secular Israelis and even women will dismantle their specific religious world.

Political Strains on the Government Coalition

An intense debate over the draft has erupted within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. Two ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have already gone public opposing a new draft policy. The inner conflict is exerting extreme pressure on the government, as it is suffering from the growing force to distribute the burden of military service uniformly within Israeli society.

While this is happening, reservists, many of whom have served much of the last year on account of the wars waged incessantly by the military, are increasingly saying that ultra-Orthodox Jews have had their time and are now overdue to be a part of the Israeli army. The clamour for inclusion was part of a more excellent call for equality in sharing the burdens of national defence in the face of rising security challenges.

Resistance Within the Ultra-Orthodox Community

Resistance to the draft from within the ultra-Orthodox community has begun to surface. Kan reported Sunday that some rabbis have been telling young men to refuse to comply with call-up notices. Such guidance again underscores the deep social divide within parts of Israeli society on the issue of mandatory military service.

As it enforces the policy, Israel faces the complex situation of trying to survive this intricate mesh of political, social, and religious tensions. The move to increase the number of ultra-Orthodox men serving in the military coincides with a moment when security threats are heightening, with multiple front-line war engagements. The actual implications of this policy shift will be necessary for the composition of Israel’s military and the internal cohesion within the nation, which will continue external pressures.