IDF artillery cannon (from IDF website)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it will begin issuing initial summons notices for candidates for security service from Israel’s ultra-Orthodox communities on Sunday. In other words, the IDF is preparing to draft thousands of Ultra-Orthodox youth in accordance with a recent ruling issued by Israel’s Supreme Court.
That ruling not only required an end to the practice of allowing for draft deferments for those who study full-time in Yeshivas – Tora study academies – but also required that the ultra-orthodox students eligible for military practice be drafted immediately.
The leaders of Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox political parties, which are a part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, have not yet reacted to the announcement. However, they have threatened to quit the coalition, depriving Netanyahu of a majority in the Knesset, should the government fail to pass a new law legalizing their deferments.
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In its announcement, the IDF said that on Sunday, July 21st, 2024, the process of issuing initial summons orders for the first call-up and for the assessment and evaluation procedures ahead of the upcoming recruitment cycle, which already began, will commence.
The IDF explained that the summons orders are part of its program to promote the integration of members of the ultra-Orthodox community into its ranks.
“The IDF is working to recruit from all parts of society in light of the conscription requirement in Israel, due to its status as the people’s army and in view of the increased operational needs at this time, given the security challenges,” said the IDF. “The IDF will continue to operate in accordance with government decisions and the law.”
In a landmark decision with far-reaching consequences, Israel’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled in June that ultra-Orthodox men must be drafted into the military. This verdict throws Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition into uncertainty, adding another layer of complexity to an already tense political climate. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, now stretching into its eighth month, has further exacerbated the pre-existing social and political divide in Israel.
“At the height of a difficult war, the burden of inequality is more than ever acute,” said Israel’s Supreme Court in its unanimous ruling.
For decades, a system of exemptions has allowed ultra-Orthodox men, also known as Haredi Jews, to dedicate themselves solely to religious studies. This arrangement, rooted in historical compromise, has long been a source of resentment among the secular population. Many secular Israelis view the exemption as unfair, arguing that all citizens should share the burden of national defense. This sentiment has only intensified during the ongoing war, where the Israeli military is stretched thin, with over 600 soldiers having lost their lives. The need for additional manpower has further stoked public frustration with the exemption system.
