Israel: the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox deeply divides the country
Political crisis in Israel over the conscription of ultra-Orthodox students. The law on their exemption from military service expires this Sunday, March 31 in the evening without any solution having been found.
An Israeli soldier in Gaza, January 16, 2024. via REUTERS - ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in Israel,
Michel Paul
This is the subject that has deeply divided
Israelis
for decades, but in the midst of the war in Gaza more than ever. The law which allows
exemption from military service
for students of Yeshiva, Talmudic institutes is increasingly discussed. Originally, Israel's first head of government, David Ben-Gurion, allowed some 400 ultra-Orthodox people to study the Torah and sacred texts instead of serving in the army.
Tens of thousands exempt
There are now
tens of thousands of people
who benefit from this exemption. There is general agreement that a change is necessary. The current law extended four times expires this evening at midnight. And, in principle, therefore from tomorrow, young ultra-Orthodox people could be forced to perform military service.
A solution at the very last moment?
Initially, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the cessation of funding for rabbinical schools and scholarships granted to their students. A situation which, in theory, could lead to the fall of the current Israeli government and provoke new elections. An improbable scenario, however. In the past, these kinds of crises ended up being resolved - sometimes in a shaky way - and often at the very last moment.
Also read: “We are at the end of our tether!”: demonstrations in Israel to demand elections and the release of hostages
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