Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas party has urged potential conscripts to disregard a call-up from the Israel Defense Forces, as political divisions over the contentious issue continue to escalate.
Traditionally, ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredi, have been exempt from military service to focus on studying the Torah. However, a Supreme Court ruling in June mandated the enlistment of draft-age ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, overturning a long-standing exemption in place since the country’s establishment 76 years ago.
This decision has triggered strong protests within Haredi communities. Shas has labeled the military service summons as outrageous and stated that the Great Rabbis have instructed followers not to respond to any call-ups until a new law defining the status of Yeshiva students is passed.
The Israel Defense Forces announced that it will begin issuing initial summonses on Sunday for screening and evaluation processes in preparation for recruitment from the ultra-Orthodox sector for the upcoming year. The IDF emphasized its commitment to recruiting from all segments of society due to the conscription obligation in Israel and the heightened security challenges the country faces.
Protests erupted following the IDF's announcement, with nine individuals being arrested for obstructing a highway. In a separate incident, senior IDF officers were assaulted by ultra-Orthodox protesters in Bnei Brak, who threw objects at them after a meeting with Rabbi David Label, who is involved in establishing the ultra-Orthodox division in the IDF.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government coalition relies on two Haredi parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, for governance. Netanyahu has been pushing for legislation in the Knesset to formalize a draft exemption for Haredi men in Israeli law.
