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.
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.