In a much anticipated move, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has commanded the military to issue 1,000 draft notices to the ultra-Orthodox community, known as the Haredim. This decision marks a significant shift in Israel's military recruitment strategy, aiming to integrate this traditionally exempt group into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
First Wave of Draft Notices
Starting 21 July, the initial wave of draft notices will be dispatched. This is the precursor to a rigorous screening and evaluation process for new recruits, set to culminate in official enlistment the following year. According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, this is only the beginning, with additional waves of draft notices to follow within the week.
The draft orders target men aged 18 to 26, a demographic previously shielded from conscription by religious study exemptions. After each batch of notices, the IDF will conduct a "learning process" to refine and improve subsequent waves, ensuring a smooth integration of these new recruits.
Historic Decision
This historic decision was made following a high-level meeting on Thursday morning between Gallant, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and other senior military officials. On 16 July, Tel Aviv announced its intention to send thousands of draft orders to Haredi men, with Haaretz reporting that up to 6,000 ultra-Orthodox men could receive notices. This is a significant increase from the IDF's current capacity to draft 3,000 ultra-Orthodox men.
🇮🇱 -- NEW: Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has directed the military to issue 1,000 draft notices to the Charedi community on Sunday.
— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) July 18, 2024
This is the first wave of notices, with additional batches to follow in the coming weeks. The ministry aims to draft 3,000 Charedi men… pic.twitter.com/sL5FjUGTRp
"The notices will go out as part of the IDF's plan to promote the integration of the ultra-Orthodox community into its ranks," the army stated on Tuesday. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address the IDF's enlistment crisis, exacerbated by heavy losses in recent conflicts with Palestinian resistance forces in Gaza.
Opposition from Religious Leaders
The draft orders have sparked fierce opposition from prominent religious figures. Former Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has vocally condemned the move, urging ultra-Orthodox Jews to resist conscription. "Anyone who receives a draft notice should tear it up and not go. He is with the Torah. He is a soldier in the army of God," Yosef declared on 16 July. He assured followers that their religious leaders would support them, even if it meant accompanying them to jail.
Yosef's statements come amid rising tensions and protests. On the same day as his comments, clashes erupted between Israeli police and ultra-Orthodox Israelis in Bnei Brak, where demonstrators blocked a highway in protest.
Haredi rabbi Dov Lando makes a controversial demand of yeshiva students following Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's announcement that draft notices would be delivered to ultra-Orthodox Jews who were previously exempted from serving in the IDF.https://t.co/4uQIsoO1uT
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) July 12, 2024
Rabbi Dov Lando, another influential figure, echoed Yosef's sentiments. In an article published on 11 July in the ultra-Orthodox newspaper Yated Ne’eman, Lando instructed yeshiva members to ignore draft orders completely.
Long-Standing Exemptions
For decades, ultra-Orthodox men of military age have been able to avoid compulsory enlistment by enrolling in yeshivas and obtaining successive one-year service deferrals until they aged out of the draft. Even those not actively studying often received exemptions, a practice that has been a source of significant tension within Israeli society.
The current move to draft ultra-Orthodox men comes at a critical time for the IDF, which faces a severe enlistment crisis. The army has been grappling with soldier shortages, further exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and casualties.
A Nation Divided
This latest development highlights the deep divisions within Israeli society regarding military service. Many Israelis believe the burden of defense should be shared by all citizens, while leaders of far-right religious parties, essential to the coalition government, advocate for continued exemptions for the Haredim.
As the situation unfolds, the nation watches closely to see how the integration of the ultra-Orthodox community into the IDF will progress and what impact it will have on Israel's social and military landscape.
The Israel Defense Forces says the 3,000 potential Haredi conscripts who will receive draft orders in the coming weeks, are those it assumes will actually show up to the induction center.
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 18, 2024
The orders will be sent out in three waves of 1,000 starting on Sunday, for the IDF to… https://t.co/8wwmckx5cE
The public reaction to the Israeli Defense Ministry's decision to draft 1,000 ultra-Orthodox men has been sharply divided. Many secular and moderate Israelis support the move, viewing it as a necessary step to ensure all citizens share the burden of national defense. They argue that the integration of the Haredim into the IDF is long overdue and essential for social cohesion and fairness.
On the other hand, the ultra-Orthodox community and its leaders have vehemently opposed the draft orders. Protests have erupted in areas like Bnei Brak, where demonstrators have clashed with police and blocked highways. Influential religious figures, including former Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi Dov Lando, have called on their followers to resist conscription, urging them to defy draft orders and continue their religious studies.
The debate has highlighted deep societal rifts, with tensions escalating between those advocating for equal military service and those defending religious exemptions. The government's handling of this issue will be closely watched, as it navigates the complex dynamics of Israeli society and seeks to address the IDF's enlistment crisis.
