Ultra-Orthodox Israelis Face Mandatory Military Draft After Years of Exemption
Ultra-Orthodox Israelis, exempt for decades from military service, are now being drafted.
Okay, so let’s unpack this, because it’s a pretty significant shift in Israeli society. For decades, a sizable portion of the ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredi Jews, have been largely exempt from mandatory military service. This has led to a situation where a certain segment of the population shoulders a disproportionate burden of national defense while others, for religious and political reasons, have been able to avoid it. This has been a point of tension and, frankly, resentment, for a long time. You hear comments like, “One third of the population pays taxes, one third works, and one third serves in the army.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood