Israel’s ongoing Gaza offensive and the mobilization of 60,000 reservists have intensified the debate surrounding mandatory military service for the Ultra-Orthodox community, placing Prime Minister Netanyahu in a difficult position. The extended deployment of reservists has heightened the urgency of this issue.
In 1948, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion established an agreement exempting full-time religious students from military service, a policy initially affecting only a small number of individuals.
Currently, the Ultra-Orthodox community represents approximately 15% of Israel’s 10 million citizens, with projections estimating a rise to one-third by 2050 due to high birth rates.
The conscription issue nearly caused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to collapse as the Knesset adjourned in July, amidst the intensification of the offensive.
Likud lawmaker Yuli Edelstein stated to Digital that the ideal situation would be for full-time Torah students to continue their religious studies, while those not dedicated to religious learning would join the IDF.
“The army needs them, and it’s feasible to integrate them. The challenge lies in the absence of an oversight mechanism acceptable to the Haredim,” Edelstein explained.
In July, Netanyahu’s Likud party replaced Edelstein as chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee after he publicly criticized Haredi lawmakers for their unwillingness to compromise on pending legislation.
This change occurred a week after the Ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas withdrew from the coalition, protesting the failure to enact legislation exempting Haredi men from military service. However, they refrained from supporting no-confidence motions that could have brought down the government.
The Knesset will resume its winter session next month, leaving Netanyahu with a little over a month to negotiate a resolution.
“We insisted that Haredi soldiers should maintain their religious identity and that the army provide the necessary infrastructure to support this. We are mindful of the sensitivities involved,” Edelstein told Digital.
“While not all rabbis currently support Haredim joining the army, we are working to engage with them as well,” he added.
Ido Keren, founder of “Katef Le Katef,” an organization advocating for universal conscription, believes it is both a security necessity and a matter of equality.
“The IDF chief of staff has reported a shortage of 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers that needs to be addressed. Despite 64,000 Haredim being eligible, they are not enlisting, while reservists continue to serve continuously,” Keren told Digital.
“It is unfair that some groups in Israeli society serve and pay taxes, while another group does not serve, does not pay taxes, and benefits from the contributions of others. The Jewish state should be founded on mutual responsibility and unity.”
Keren proposes enforcing a universal draft law with economic sanctions for non-compliance, arguing that cutting public funding for those who refuse to serve would encourage Haredim to enlist and join the workforce, thereby contributing to Israeli society.
Moshe Roth, a former lawmaker from the Ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, explained to Digital that the roots of the debate trace back to the founding of Israel. “From the beginning, it was understood that a portion of the population dedicating themselves to Torah study was vital for the country’s spiritual and national existence.”
Roth mentioned that approximately 20 years ago, Israel’s High Court ruled the existing arrangement illegal because it violated the principle of equality. Since then, the Knesset has repeatedly attempted to legislate on the Haredi draft.
“It has become a politically charged issue used by many parties to gain votes, making it extremely difficult to pass a law. Even when the Knesset succeeds, the High Court often finds the legislation inadequate. Since Oct. 7, the issue has become even more sensitive.”
According to Roth, the IDF initially resisted drafting Haredim for cultural reasons. “The army is progressive, and the presence of yeshiva students would alter its character and potentially discourage women from joining. The military is not enthusiastic about such a dramatic change,” he said.
During a recent visit to the Gaza Strip, IDF Chief of Staff called for enlistment from all sectors of society.
“Israel’s security depends on the full participation of all its citizens. This is both a civic duty and a national imperative. I urge everyone to enlist and contribute equally; this is the call of the hour,” Zamir stated.
Meanwhile, the IDF is taking steps to accommodate religious soldiers. In January, numerous Ultra-Orthodox recruits joined the new Hasmonean Brigade. The Netzah Yehuda Battalion, formerly Nahal Haredi, allows Haredi men to serve as combat soldiers while adhering to strict religious practices.
In June, the IDF announced plans to issue over 50,000 draft notices to Ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students and increase enforcement against draft evasion.
“We are trying to change a 77-year-old situation,” Likud’s Edelstein told Digital. “It’s a significant and challenging shift, but it’s necessary.”
“We have no choice, for both military and social reasons,” he concluded.