7,000 in Israel to appear for conscription • “Perhaps will be shocked by the news”
Israel is beginning to draft ultra-Orthodox men into the army, something that has been an extremely contentious issue in the country.
The decision has been taken by Defense Minister Israel Katz despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being said to be skeptical.
– Many ultra-Orthodox believed that this was exaggerated when former Defense Minister Gallant was dismissed. They might be shocked by the news now, says Therese Christiansson, TV4’s Middle East correspondent.
On November 5, Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, something he had previously failed to do due to demonstrations. Gallant was a driving force in the issue of the ultra-orthodox also being covered by conscription. Now the new Defense Minister Israel Katz has decided to follow through on the controversial measure. Israeli Haraz reports that starting Sunday, a total of 7,000 ultra-Orthodox men will be called up.
– The ultra-orthodox will probably either loudly protest or ignore this in the autumn. In previous calls, only a few have signed up. The calls mean nothing if there are no measures when people refuse to follow the call. Then it becomes more part of a politically tense situation, than a military measure, says TV4’s Middle East correspondent Terese Christiansson.
Depending on the ultra-orthodox voices
In June this year, the Supreme Court decided that the military service should also include the ultra-Orthodox, something from which they had previously been exempt. Benjamin Netanyahu has been skeptical of the law because his coalition depends on two ultra-Orthodox parties to maintain power. The ultra-Orthodox parties believe that military service goes against their conservative traditions.
– The question of the ultra-Orthodox in the military has been troublesome for a long time in Israel but has reached new heights now because the military forces need more people to call in due to the multi-front war, but also because Netanyahu needs the ultra-Orthodox voices in his fragile coalition, says Terese Christiansson , TV4’s Middle East correspondent.
The ultra-Orthodox Jews have the highest birth rate in the country and approximately 66,000 ultra-Orthodox men are now among the draftable group. Of the 13,000 who come of age every year, only ten percent do military service.
Many thought this was exaggerated
According to Israeli law, both men and women who belong to the Jewish population have military service. The 21 percent of the population who are Arab have been exempted from conscription. In total, 13 percent of Israelis belong to the ultra-Orthodox group, but the secular population is the largest in the country at 44 percent.
Whether the defense minister’s decision will lead to the ultra-Orthodox parties withdrawing support from Netanyahu remains to be seen.
– It is difficult to analyze because probably many ultra-Orthodox thought that this was an act when former Defense Minister Gallant was dismissed. They might be shocked by the news now. But how difficult the reactions will probably also depend on how compelling the summons will be, says Terese Christiansson.
Since October 7 last year, however, slightly more ultra-Orthodox have been stated to be able to consider enlisting, even though the majority still say they are against the idea.