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.
