Israel court ends draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews • FRANCE 24 English

we’re going to talk more about this now with our Jerusalem correspondent Iris mackler Iris tell us a bit more about this very controversial decision controversial Landmark decision about an issue that’s really been uh tearing Israel apart and its politics apart for decades now so this is an exemption for young Ultra Orthodox men who are not required to fight H and what the high court said Israel Supreme Court its highest court uh said was that this was discrimination and in a time of War discrimination of the worst kind because there’s a whole group of young men who don’t take the risk that is the risk of losing their lives uh so that um was their overall decision there’s also a component which is that they will not be funding for these young men either for them to study or for their schools uh if they do not go and and are not drafted and I think one of the reasons for this right now is actually the October the 7th attacks and the war with Gaza which has exposed the Manpower shortage in the IDF in Israel’s military so we’ve learned during this court case what the actual numbers of young Ultra Orthodox men in the military are and it’s about 700 a year just to give you an idea there’s more than 60,000 eligible young men so that’s not a large proportion uh and it is compulsory for everyone else and today the court has come down uh with this decision in this hugely um important case so Iris what’s the likelihood that this decision could have an effect on Benjamin Netanyahu and his government there is a likelihood let’s just start with the ultra Orthodox themselves the ultra Orthodox and religious parties to whom this is a hugely emotive issue they say that they want uh to pray rather than to fight and it’s their prayers that are protecting the people of Israel I think that’s the best summary of the young men that I’ve spoken to over the past week uh so it’s very emotive for them and they are about onethird of this uh government of the various coalitions that’s their numbers but it’s not just that it’s that because of this war we now hear descending voices from within the liid party so that’s the party Benjamin Netanyahu leads they say they’re not going to vote in favor of an exemption at this time so the vote may not be passed and because of its huge importance to the AL Orthodox parties then it is a possibility that they will leave I have heard discussions saying that they know they may not get a more friendly government towards them in the future but this is something they can’t live with uh and it is possible that they would leave all right Iris thanks for that that’s France 24’s Iris MAA reporting live from Jerusalem

Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students into the military, a decree which creates new political strains for embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s Likud party said the Supreme Court’s ruling was “perplexing,” given ongoing efforts in parliament to agree on a new conscription law that would address the problem. FRANCE 24’s Irris Makler reports from Jerusalem.
#Israel #ultraOrthodox #military

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28 comments

  4. What does this mean? Would they be forced to serve during wars only or do they have to take part in the, for everyone else, mandatory conscription? Whould that include the women as well?

  12. No menything or wemen should be made to fight. If governments want to go to war the government's should be the ones to fight. Then we probably won't have so many wars in the world.

  14. Wow, they want to be in government to make policies to send people to war, but they stay home to watch cat videos on YouTube while people are fighting for them?

  15. Ultra Orthodox: Consider this a hands-on understanding of current affairs. Maybe this will inform your ideals?

    —–

    Everyone else: Now they have some skin in the ideological games they have been playing with other people's real lives.

  16. Israeli WOMAN serve then so can they, Tibetan monks can fend for themselves then these "men" can bring their side. HIDING behind this is a NO NO. you want to reap the benefits like everybody else but NOT bring your side, don't be spineless

  21. Go where? They claim Israel its their land, then fight for it!!!! Monks, Priests have done so!!! Ohhh, wait its not theirs!!!

  22. And so it should be. Every Israeli citizen has mandatory military service, which is generally 24 to 32 months, with this period varying depending… What makes Orthodox Jews believe they should be allowed to live in Israel–taking without contributing to national security?

  23. About time. The ultra orthodox in Israel don’t care about anyone except themselves, mooching off state funds while contributing nothing to society except a vitriol towards secularism.

  27. Tu booody time – only men over 40 should be exempt to pray for Israel . Everyone else should be drafted . It is indeed Jewish law going back to nehemiah and all the prophets .

  28. If you study Kennan or higher Judaism after having a family then there is a reason . It is about being a man . There is no reason these young men should not join there brothers and sisters to defend the land

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