Israel's High Court appeared to take a decisive step Thursday night regarding military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) yeshiva students, with the court ruling that government funding for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students should be An interim order was issued effectively blocking the case. Eligible to join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The judicial intervention comes as the current government resolution, which temporarily blocked the recruitment of haredi students despite the expiry of relevant laws, is set to expire at midnight on March 31st. With no new legal framework in place to replace the expiring law, the issue has gone to court, prompting High Court action to take effect from April 1.
The development has deepened rifts within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition over the controversial issue of Haredi recruitment into the military. The debate has reached a boiling point, with Benny Gantz's National Unity party threatening to leave the coalition if blanket exemptions remain in place, and Haredi parties threatening to leave if the government fails to secure legislation to block conscription. ing.
The high court's decision has sparked fierce criticism from Haredi leaders, who see it as an attack on their religious way of life and the value of Torah study. Meanwhile, supporters of equal military service, including Israel's Movement for Quality Government, which has launched a legal challenge, hailed the decision as a milestone in eliminating “unfair discrimination” in military service and It emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility.
