Dependent on ultra-Orthodox parties: Conscription for Israel's ultra-Orthodox puts Netanyahu's government to the test

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, faces a serious political challenge. The question of whether to implement conscription for ultra-Orthodox men could rock his government. While many soldiers are continuously deployed and reservists have been called up, ultra-Orthodox groups are demanding that they be exempted from conscription.

Since Israel's founding, religious groups have been granted exemptions from conscription to devote themselves to the study of religious texts. Since then, however, the number of Orthodox Jews has risen sharply, and with it, criticism of the exemption. According to AP , Netanyahu is under pressure from his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners to pass a law that would permanently exempt them from military service.

Israel's military is struggling to provide the required number of soldiers for the Gaza war, amid the highest mobilization of reservists since 1973. According to the Independent , many reservists have already served in multiple missions in Gaza and are now no longer willing to accept further calls. The decline in readiness for reserve duty has forced the military to seek volunteers on social media platforms.

The Israeli Supreme Court ruled last year that military conscription for ultra-Orthodox men must begin. According to the AP, only a few of the approximately 12,000 draft notices sent out have actually joined the service.

The ultra-Orthodox community argues that their contribution through prayer and religious study is just as valuable as military service. According to the Independent, many members of the ultra-Orthodox community oppose conscription, fearing that contact with non-religious society could influence their faith. Rabbi Ephraim Luft of the city of Bnei Barak emphasized: "It mixes people from very different backgrounds, some with very immoral ideas."

Netanyahu needs the support of the ultra-Orthodox parties and has promised to protect their interests. Without this support, polls suggest he would have difficulty forming a coalition in new elections. However, according to AP, there are also voices within his party opposing the military exemption and in favor of a fairer solution.

The upcoming parliamentary vote threatens to become a test of strength for Netanyahu's government. According to the Independent, the ultra-Orthodox parties could support the proposal to dissolve parliament if no progress is made in the negotiations. Two important parties, Shas and Degel HaTorah, are crucial in this regard, as they are part of the coalition.