Israel Supreme Court Rules Ultra-Orthodox Must Join Military
Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men must be subject to the country's compulsory military service, similar to other citizens, due to the absence of a law distinguishing between Jewish seminary students and other draftees. This decision arrives amid escalating conflict in Gaza and could significantly impact Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition.
The court's ruling highlighted that the current exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men constitute "invalid selective enforcement," violating the rule of law. The decision could potentially lead to the collapse of Netanyahu's coalition, resulting in new elections. Furthermore, the ruling maintains the suspension of state subsidies for seminaries where exempted ultra-Orthodox men study, increasing tensions within the government as different factions debate the draft's expansion.
