An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man watches an Israeli soldier standing guard in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 3, 2023.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the military, a decree with the potential to divide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. For more than six years, Israeli governments have been asking the Supreme Court for more time to pass a new conscription law, and Tuesday's top court ruling could speed up that process.
A group protesting Israel's exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews from mandatory military service are shown March 26, 2024, at a demonstration near the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. "There's no judge there who understands the value of Torah study and its contribution to the people of Israel throughout the generations," said ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Moshe Gafni, who heads the powerful parliamentary finance committee, referring to study of Judaism's holy books.
Religious women generally receive exemptions that are not as controversial, in part because women are not expected to serve in combat units.The ultra-Orthodox conscription waiver has become especially charged as Israel's armed forces are overstretched by a multi-front war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
While public opinion has tended to favour removing the exemptions, two ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu's coalition, United Torah Judaism and Shas, have vowed to fight any effort to end the exemption.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel's high court orders the army to draft ultra-Orthodox men, rattling Netanyahu's governmentJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing
Read more »
Israel's high court orders the army to draft ultra-Orthodox men, rattling Netanyahu's governmentIsrael's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition as Israel continues to wage war in Gaza.
Read more »
Israel's high court orders the army to draft ultra-Orthodox men, rattling Netanyahu's governmentJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing
Read more »
Israel's high court orders the army to draft ultra-Orthodox men, rattling Netanyahu's governmentJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing
Read more »
Israel's high court orders the army to draft ultra-Orthodox men, rattling Netanyahu's governmentJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing
Read more »
Israel’s high court orders military to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory serviceThe ruling is a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition as Israel continues to wage war in Gaza
Read more »