IDF troops in Gaza
The IDF says it recently operated and the surrounding of Tel Al-Sultan in Gaza. (IDF video.)
While Israel is still an additional 60,000 reservists for the offensive of Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confronted with a confrontation with compulsory military service for the Ultraethodox community, a debate scaled by the tribe on reservists who have been pulled out of their families for months.
During Israëls War of Independence War of 1948, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reached an agreement with the Ultra-Orthodox community to release full-time Bible students from the army. The scheme, known as “Torato Manuto” – literally “his Torah is his occupation” – originally applied to only a few hundred students.
Nowadays, that community is about 15% of the Israeli population of 10 million, a share that is expected to grow about a third in 2050 due to high birth rates.
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The leader of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, carried out a field tour in the Gaza Strip. (IDF spokesperson)
When the Knesset broke out at the end of July before his summer recess, the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was about to collapse over the services, even when the war against Hamas in Gaza increased.
“The army needs them, Israel needs them, and it is manageable – we can do it. What makes it difficult is the lack of a supervisory mechanism to which the Haredim would agree,” said Edelstein.
In July, the Likud party from Netanyahu Edelstein as chairman of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of Knesset removed after he publicly accused Haredi legislative laws to make a compromise about the legislation that the body was ready to continue.
The shake-up came a week after the Ultraethodox parties had withdrawn the Judaism of Torah and Shas from the coalition in protest about the failure to adopt legislation that Haredi men had of military service exemption. However, they did not stop when they entered the no-confidence of the opposition that the government could overthrow.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys sit for mounted police officers during a demonstration against the design in the Israeli army on 27 June 2024 in Bnei Brak, Israel. (Itai Ron/Midden -Ooste Images/AFP via Getty images)
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The Knesset is back together for its winter session next month, so that Netanyahu gives a little more than a deal for just over a month.
“For the time being, the rabbis are not in favor of Haredim who joins the army – of course not all – but we also try to work with them,” he added.
Ido Keer is the founder of “Katef Le Katef” (shoulder to shoulder), an organization of young military reservists from the political spectrum of Israel that argues for universal service, as well as a safety need and a matter of equality.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish group gathered to protest against conscription for the military branch of Tel Hashomer in Tel Aviv, Israel on August 6, 2024. (Matan Golan/Anadolu via Getty images)
“It is not logical that entire groups in Israeli society serve and pay taxes,” he continued, “while another group does not serve, do not pay taxes and gets a free ride thanks to others. The Jewish state is built on values ​​of mutual responsibility and unity.”
Israeli army reservists protesting against a bill that would grant exemptions to Ultraorthodox Jews to serve in the army on December 26, 2024, outside the Israeli Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty images)
Keering argued that the solution lies in maintaining a universal draft law that is supported by economic, rather than criminal sanctions. Lowering the public budgets for those who refuse to serve, he said, would encourage Haredim to submit and enter the workforce, allowing them to contribute to Israeli society.
Roth noted that the Supreme Court of Israel considered the status -quo scheme illegal for violating the principle of equality. Since then, the Knesset has repeatedly tried – and has failed – to adopt legislation that the Haredi design tackles.
Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu visits the Tel NOF AirBase on 16 June 2025, accompanied by Minister of Defense Israel Katz and IDF -Stafchef Lt. Gene. Eyal Zamir. (GPO)
“It has become politically charged and armed. Many parties use it as a tool to win votes, which has made it extremely difficult to accept a law. Even when the Knesset succeeds, the High Court often rules that the shortage falls,” said Roth. “Since October 7, the issue has become even more sensitive.”
According to Roth, the IDF was opposed to the preparation of Haredim for cultural reasons. “The army is progressive and the Yeshiva students would change its character and prevent women from being integrated. It will change the situation dramatically; the army is not too enthusiastic about that,” he said.
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During a tour of the Gaza Strip at the end of last month, IDF -Stafchef Lt. Gene. Eyal Zamir to the service of all sectors.
“The security of Israel requires the entire partnership of all parts of the nation. This is a civil obligation and a national imperative. I call on everyone to submit and to the same; this is the call of the hour,” said Zamir.
Netzach Yehuda soldiers read from a Torah -Scroll during battaljontraining. Netzach Yehuda is a Haredi -Bataljon of the KFIR brigade in the IDF. (Hillel Maeir/TPS-IL)
In the meantime, the IDF is taking steps to accommodate religious soldiers. In January, dozens of ultra -orthodox recruits joined the new Hasmoneean Brigade of the army. The Netzah Yehuda -Bataljon, formerly Nahal Haredi, enables Haredi men to serve as combat soldiers and to observe strict religious practices.
In June the IDF announced that it would spend more than 50,000 draft assignments on Ultraorthodox Yeshiva students and would increase enforcement against design discharge.
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“We have no choice – both for military and social reasons,” he said.
