The Israeli military is set to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews, also known as Haredi, who have traditionally been exempted from military conscription. According to AP on Tuesday, the Israeli military announced in a released statement that it will initiate the draft proceedings, formalizing the military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews in July. The announcement comes after Israel’s Supreme Court’s ruling on June 25 that the existing conscription law that grants exemptions to ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students is unfair.
Under the existing law, all non-disabled men, including women, are mandated to serve in the military. But ultra-Orthodox Jews have long refused military service since the founding of the country, claiming that it violates their Jewish identity. Despite a constitutional decision declaring Haredi military exemptions unconstitutional in 2017, the Israeli government failed to amend the relevant domestic laws due to strong opposition from ultra-Orthodox parties. However, after the war in the Gaza Strip and amidst growing public resentment over military privileges, a Supreme Court’s decree came in June, prompting the military’s decision to start drafting the ultra-Orthodox. Meanwhile, Haredi took to the street in protest, blocking major highways and clashing with the police.
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