There is nothing in Israeli law - so far - that obligates Arab citizens to serve in the (European) military.

Today, Monday, Israeli Minister of Regional Cooperation David Amsalem submitted a petition to the Supreme Court against Defense Minister Yoav Galant’s decision excluding Arab citizens of Israel from compulsory military service.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted Amsalem - a leader in the Likud Party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - as saying, “I decided to go to the Supreme Court with an appeal like this because the Arab citizens of Israel get all the rights that every citizen of Israel gets, but they do not share in bearing the burden.” Concerning compulsory service in the army.

He added - referring to the Supreme Court - "I do not pin hopes on this institution, which I call the Authority of Hypocrites, but what interests me is to see how they will evade making a decision this time this time, after they made their decision regarding the recruitment of the Haredim."

Arab citizens constitute about 20% of Israel's population, but the overwhelming majority of them refuse military service.

Every Israeli man, male and female, who has reached the age of 18 is required to serve in the military, but there is nothing in the law that obligates Arab citizens to serve in the military.

Haredi recruitment

The Supreme Court confirmed in its decisions that religious Jews (Haredim) must be recruited into the Israeli army.

Religious parties threaten to withdraw from the government if religious Jews are forced into military service.

The withdrawal of the religious parties - namely Shas and United Torah Judaism - would lead to the fall of Netanyahu's government.

In this regard, the broadcasting authority said, “Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri said in a closed session with the Prime Minister and heads of the United Torah Judaism Party, that he will hold talks with Arab Knesset representatives and that it is likely that they will agree to be absent from voting on the new conscription law.”

Deri was referring to the alliance of the Democratic Front for Peace and the Arab List for Change, headed by Ayman Odeh and Ahmed Tibi, which has 5 of the 120 seats in the Knesset.

The broadcaster said that Netanyahu had pledged that the 32 Likud representatives would express their support for the law.

There is a belief among coalition members that they will succeed in convincing Knesset representatives from the Front and Arab for Change to abstain from voting on the new conscription law.

But Representative Odeh wrote, in a post on the X platform, “I suggest to all analysts to calm down... Whoever thinks that we will save the government of killing and starvation will find himself facing elections.”

Odeh added, "It is not possible for any of us to vote to give Netanyahu another day in power. His hands are stained with the blood of Palestinians and Israelis. We will do everything for his downfall as quickly as possible."

As for MP Ahmed Al-Tibi, he wrote - in a post on the X platform - “This disastrous government must be overthrown... Our votes will not save it from the crisis, and if our votes tip the scales in the direction of overthrowing it, it will be overthrown.”

The date for voting on the religious recruitment law has not yet been set.

Religious Jews refuse to serve in the army and consider their mission to be to study the Torah.

Source: Anadolu Agency