Government Working on Immediate IDF Enlistment of Ultra-Orthodox Men

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Amid ongoing legal proceedings to finalize the matter, Israel’s government has told the country’s Supreme Court justices that it is working on the immediate enlistment of army-age ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men into the Israel Defense Forces, i24News reports.

The ultra-Orthodox community has been exempt from the compulsory draft affecting all other Israeli Jews since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Sponsored by the state, young Haredi men have occupied themselves with religious studies instead. While this was generally accepted in the early years of the state, the issue has become increasingly contentious: the Haredi community has grown substantially, and many Israelis feel it is unfair they should be exempt from helping to defend the country while also receiving funding from the government. Moreover, especially in light of the Oct. 7 disaster, the need for Israel to have a larger army has come to the forefront.

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs confirmed in a statement that plans are underway to start a gradual enlistment process for the Haredi community, i24News reports.

“The responsible authorities are working on a plan for the gradual recruitment of Haredim into the IDF, and initial plans are due to be completed within several weeks,” Fuchs stated in the government’s response to the Supreme Court.

In a separate statement, opposition Leader Yair Lapid said the government must reject all delays to immediate enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men.”You can’t say ‘Together we will win’ if we don’t mobilize together,” Lapid said.

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