Israel's Supreme Court Ruling on Ultra-Orthodox Conscription
In a landmark decision, Israel's Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that ultra-Orthodox Israelis studying in Talmudic schools must be conscripted into the Israeli army. The ruling, which also mandates that yeshivas will no longer receive government funding if their students do not enlist, is expected to significantly impact Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition. The decision was made by an expanded panel of nine judges, led by Justice Uzi Vogelman, who emphasized the need for equality in military service, especially during times of conflict.
The court's decision has been hailed as a historic triumph for the rule of law and equality by the 'Movement for Quality Government in Israel,' the main petitioner. They called on the government and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to immediately proceed with the conscription of yeshiva students. The ruling comes after the High Court deemed admissible appeals against the government's previous decision not to conscript yeshiva students, despite the expiration of exemption laws in March.
Impact on Israeli Politics and Society
The crisis over military service exemptions for Talmud students has become a pivotal issue in Israeli politics. Ultra-Orthodox Jews, who have been historically exempt from military service since a 1948 decision by David Ben-Gurion, now face the possibility of conscription. This shift is expected to create significant tension within Netanyahu's coalition, particularly with religious parties. Yitzhak Goldknopf, leader of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, criticized the ruling as 'very unfortunate and disappointing,' emphasizing the importance of the Torah in Jewish life.
The government is concurrently attempting to advance a new conscription law that passed its first reading in the Knesset. This proposed legislation aims to reduce the exemption age for yeshiva students and set annual recruitment targets to gradually increase the number of ultra-Orthodox recruits. The law also includes financial penalties for yeshivas that fail to meet these targets. However, the High Court's ruling takes precedence, as the proposed law has not yet completed the legislative process.
- The Supreme Court's decision is seen as a move towards greater equality in Israeli society, addressing long-standing grievances about the unequal burden of military service. The ruling could also have broader implications for the integration of ultra-Orthodox Jews into Israeli society and the workforce.
- Data from the Israeli military indicates a decline in the number of ultra-Orthodox soldiers, with only around 700 drafted this year compared to 1,200 in previous years. This decline underscores the challenges the government faces in implementing the court's ruling and achieving its recruitment goals.
- The proposed conscription law includes measures to incentivize ultra-Orthodox integration into the job market by lowering the exemption age and setting incremental recruitment targets. However, disagreements remain over the specifics of these targets and the financial sanctions for non-compliance.
