Attorney General's Declaration Threatens Exemptions, Coalition Negotiations, and Supreme Court Deadline.
The Israeli government is under pressure to find a compromise in a legal dispute over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews.
The Attorney General declared that there is no legal basis for the ongoing exemptions, meaning ultra-Orthodox Jews could be drafted starting April 1.
The government, which relies on ultra-Orthodox parties, has set a deadline of Thursday to reach a deal.
The issue has gained urgency due to the ongoing war in Gaza, and the Supreme Court has given the government until Wednesday to pass a new conscription bill.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is struggling to reach an agreement on mandatory military conscription for the ultra-Orthodox community, as his coalition relies on two large ultra-Orthodox parties who are opposed.
The government has requested a deadline extension from the Supreme Court to try and negotiate a deal.
Last year, the government approved over $1 billion in funding for orthodox religious schools.
Netanyahu is trying to avoid an early election, which recent polls suggest would benefit centrist member Benny Gantz and his party.
The ultra-Orthodox parties had previously supported Netanyahu's judicial reforms in exchange for extended military exemptions.
Protests erupted in Israel following a judicial reform, with tens of thousands of Israelis participating.
In February 2023, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant proposed a military service reform, aiming to include the ultra-Orthodox community.
This move was perceived as a challenge to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is also from the Likud party.
Military service is mandatory for all young Israelis, but the ultra-Orthodox have historically been exempt, with 66,000 exemptions granted in 2022.
Jewish men studying the Torah full-time receive annual deferments until age 26, while young ultra-Orthodox women are automatically exempt.
These exemptions, established in 1948, were intended to preserve Jewish traditions after the Holocaust.
The ultra-Orthodox community in Israel numbers 1.3 million people, with a high fertility rate of over six children per woman, compared to the national average of 2.5. They aim to extend military service exemptions to all religious students, arguing that it goes against their values.
The government, which relies on ultra-Orthodox parties, has set a deadline of Thursday to reach a deal.
The issue has gained urgency due to the ongoing war in Gaza, and the Supreme Court has given the government until Wednesday to pass a new conscription bill.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is struggling to reach an agreement on mandatory military conscription for the ultra-Orthodox community, as his coalition relies on two large ultra-Orthodox parties who are opposed.
The government has requested a deadline extension from the Supreme Court to try and negotiate a deal.
Last year, the government approved over $1 billion in funding for orthodox religious schools.
Netanyahu is trying to avoid an early election, which recent polls suggest would benefit centrist member Benny Gantz and his party.
The ultra-Orthodox parties had previously supported Netanyahu's judicial reforms in exchange for extended military exemptions.
Protests erupted in Israel following a judicial reform, with tens of thousands of Israelis participating.
In February 2023, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant proposed a military service reform, aiming to include the ultra-Orthodox community.
This move was perceived as a challenge to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is also from the Likud party.
Military service is mandatory for all young Israelis, but the ultra-Orthodox have historically been exempt, with 66,000 exemptions granted in 2022.
Jewish men studying the Torah full-time receive annual deferments until age 26, while young ultra-Orthodox women are automatically exempt.
These exemptions, established in 1948, were intended to preserve Jewish traditions after the Holocaust.
The ultra-Orthodox community in Israel numbers 1.3 million people, with a high fertility rate of over six children per woman, compared to the national average of 2.5. They aim to extend military service exemptions to all religious students, arguing that it goes against their values.
Translation:
Translated by AI
