The court's decision challenges a system that has long provided exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men from military service, favoring their full-time religious studies over mandatory enlistment. This exemption has been a source of resentment among the broader Israeli public, particularly as the country grapples with the toll of the conflict in Gaza.
The Supreme Court deemed the current system discriminatory and mandated that the government present a new plan by Monday, with a deadline for implementation set for June 30. Netanyahu has requested an extension to find a compromise, but the court has yet to respond. In the interim, the court has halted state funding for subsidies to religious students of enlistment age who have not received army deferrals, effective Monday.
