Israel's Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the state to cut financial benefits for ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse to respond to conscription call-ups, escalating a long-running dispute over military service exemptions.
Court Ruling and Rationale
"Since no concrete steps have been proposed indicating an intention to enforce the obligation to enlist... there is no alternative but to order practical measures," the court stated in its ruling. The decision targets subsidies that provide reduced rates for local taxes, public transport, and childcare to ultra-Orthodox individuals who avoid draft orders.
Judge Noam Solberg clarified that the ruling did not constitute "sanctions" but rather a "loss of benefits." He emphasized that military service is a "legitimate" objective that should influence eligibility for state benefits.
Historical Context
The exemption for ultra-Orthodox men engaged in full-time religious study dates back to Israel's founding in 1948. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly challenged this policy, culminating in a 2024 ruling that mandated conscription for ultra-Orthodox men. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition relies on ultra-Orthodox parties, has resisted implementing the ruling.
Instead, Netanyahu has favored an alternative bill that critics call the "draft dodging bill," which would largely allow ultra-Orthodox men to continue avoiding service. A government debate on conscription legislation was delayed due to political pressures.
Demographic and Social Pressures
The ultra-Orthodox community, known as Haredim, now constitutes 14% of Jewish Israelis, up from a small fraction decades ago. This growth, combined with prolonged military call-ups for other Israelis during recent wars, has fueled resentment against the exemptions, even among religious Jews.
There are approximately 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, with around 66,000 men of military age currently benefiting from the exemption—a record number. Military figures indicate that only 2% of ultra-Orthodox Jews respond to conscription orders. Yeshiva students who previously enjoyed automatic exemptions are now called up but most fail to report for duty without facing penalties.
