Israel’s Supreme Court rules to end military exemption for ultra-Orthodox

The Israeli Supreme Court ruled unanimously this Tuesday to end the military exemption for young ultra-Orthodox Jews, a highly controversial measure that has historically divided Israeli society, especially since the current war launched by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The Court decided that there is “no legal basis for excluding ultra-Orthodox men from the draft” and that they should not receive publicly funded educational and welfare grants if they do not serve in the military.

As Haaretz newspaper notes, the decision will likely have a significant impact on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.

In February, for the first time, the Supreme Court heard an appeal against the government’s decision not to admit students Yeshiva (a center of Torah and Talmud study aimed at men in Orthodox Judaism, typically in Israeli military service). Despite the fact that the law exempting them expired at the end of March. The petitions were submitted by Brothers and Sisters in Arms, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and 240 individuals.

Data provided by the Israeli military ahead of the June hearing shows that the actual number of ultra-Orthodox individuals serving in the military is significantly lower than previously shown in official army statistics.

In early June, an expanded nine-judge panel heard petitions on the issue. Due to significant differences with the Attorney General, Gali Baharao-Miyara, the government was represented by two private lawyers.