Orthodox Yeshiva Students Must Draft into the Military

Tuesday some pretty ground breaking news broke. The High Court of Justice ruled unanimously that the Israeli government must draft Orthodox yeshiva students into the military, ending a decades-long practice of granting exemptions across the board for young men who are totally dedicated to learning Torah. 

The court deemed a June 2023 government decision to delay the drafting of Haredi men illegal and ordered immediate action to conscript them. The court is also barring state funding for yeshivas whose students are eligible for the draft, citing severe inequality. 

The ruling was influenced by the expiration of the law allowing exemptions and the increased demand for IDF manpower following October 7th . Although the court allowed for a gradual drafting process, it emphasized the need to start immediately. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel hailed the decision as a historic victory for equality in military service. It seems that the Orthodox community might not hold the same view.