The Israeli Supreme Court Tuesday ordered the country’s government to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the country’s military, dealing a major political blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whose coalition government relies on support from ultra-orthodox parties.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews have strongly opposed any efforts to conscript them into the country's military.
In a unanimous ruling, the court’s panel of judges said there is no existing legal framework that supports the longstanding military service exemption granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students.
While the draft is compulsory for most Israeli men and women, Ultra-Orthodox Jews have received special exemptions, allowing them to pursue religious study.
The court also ordered the government to halt funding to yeshivas or religious schools whose students don’t comply with the enlistment orders.
Netanyahu, his office and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are yet to comment on the ruling.
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“In the midst of a grueling war, the burden of inequality is harsher than ever and demands a solution,” Justice Uzi Vogelman, said in the ruling.
Senior Ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Moshe Gafni criticized the ruling on X, saying: “There has never been a ruling by the Supreme Court in favor of the members of the Yeshiva and the interest of the ultra-orthodox public. There isn’t a single judge there who understands the value of studying the Torah and their contribution to the people of Israel in all generations.”
This is a developing story.