This decision, reported by multiple news outlets, has been hailed as a significant step towards ensuring equality before the law.
According to the Daily Caller, the court deemed the long-standing exemptions granted to the Haredim as "invalid selective enforcement," which it described as a severe breach of the rule of law. The ruling could potentially lead to the enlistment of 3,000 Haredim into the IDF this year, amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
This legal resolution brings an end to years of judicial extensions and government delays since 2017, when the court first struck down the law that had, for decades, granted exemptions to the Haredi Jews. These exemptions have long been a source of resentment among secular Jews, who feel they have been shouldering the responsibility of protecting Israel disproportionately. Despite government lawyers' attempts to convince the court that its decision could fracture Israeli society, the court remained steadfast.
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The ruling poses a significant threat to the unity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, which includes politically influential ultra-Orthodox political parties. As reported by the Associated Press, these parties could potentially abandon the coalition, triggering elections.
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However, Netanyahu's Likud party has expressed skepticism about the ruling's effectiveness, stating, "The real solution to the draft problem is not a Supreme Court ruling."
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Yitzhak Goldknopf, a prominent Haredi leader and Israel's Construction and Housing Minister, has labeled the ruling as "very unfortunate and disappointing." Goldknopf has previously asserted that the IDF neither wants nor needs the Haredim, claiming that the IDF rejected 3,300 of 4,000 Haredim who offered to enlist in the military since the start of 2024.
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Meanwhile, Haredi Member of the Knesset Israel Eichler has warned of the potential for "a religious war in the streets and division among Jews."
In contrast, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has voiced his support for the ruling, condemning the exemptions as "illegal" and declaring that the days of "shady deals are over." Lapid has also criticized a section of Israeli society for refusing to enlist while others are dying because they did.
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The Haredim, who currently constitute 12.9% of Israel's population, have seen a significant increase in their numbers, from about 212,000 in 1979 to 1.29 million today. This ruling, therefore, has far-reaching implications for the future of Israel's military and societal dynamics.
