Israel's New Military Draft: A Tipping Point for Ultra-Orthodox Men

The Israeli military is set to start sending draft notices to Jewish ultra-Orthodox men, following a Supreme Court mandate. Historically exempt from the draft, these men must now enlist, causing public controversy and political tensions within Netanyahu's government, which depends on ultra-Orthodox party support.

The Israeli military announced it will begin sending draft notices to Jewish ultra-Orthodox men starting Sunday. This move follows a landmark Supreme Court decision requiring young religious men to enlist for military service, upending long-standing exemptions.

For years, these exemptions have been a source of widespread resentment among the general Israeli public. The dissatisfaction has been particularly intense over the past nine months amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza. The court ruling declared the exemptions discriminatory, paving the way for the new draft notices.

The announcement poses a significant challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which relies heavily on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties. These parties have consistently opposed changes to the military draft system, setting the stage for potential political upheaval.