Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday asked Israel's top court to defer a March 31 deadline for the government to come up with a new military conscription plan that would address mainstream anger at exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jews.
The decades-old controversy has become especially sensitive as Israel's armed forces, made up mostly of teenaged conscripts and older civilians mobilised for reserve duty, wage a nearly six-month-old war in Gaza to try to eliminate the Islamist Hamas movement that rules the Palestinian enclave.
While the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to Netanyahu's request, it ruled separately that state subsidies for military-age ultra-Orthodox men studying in seminaries rather than serving in uniform be suspended as of Monday.
The two ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition, United Torah Judaism and Shas, denounced the ruling as a "mark of Cain." They vowed to fight for what they deemed their constituents' "right" to stay in seminaries - but stopped short of threatening to walk out of the government.
Piling on the pressure, Netanyahu's attorney-general, Gali Baharav-Miara, wrote in a submission to the court that she saw no legal basis for deferring the ultra-Orthodox conscriptions.
The Supreme Court in 2018 found in favour of appellants who argued that the waiver was discriminatory. Parliament failed to come up with a new arrangement, and a government-issued stay on mandatory conscription of the ultra-Orthodox expires on Monday.
Those favouring a review of the exemption include Netanyahu's defence minister and other cabinet members managing the war. They predict months of more fighting that will strain manpower and stoke public demands for more equitable call-ups.
One senior Israeli official estimated that 5% of the population was taking part in the Gaza conflict, which has spread to Lebanon and Syria and drawn missile salvoes from other Iranian-aligned groups as far away as in Yemen and Iraq.
@NomineeSquirrelDemocrat1mo1MO
As the driving force behind much of israel's strife, it is hard to fathom how all other israelis tolerate the ultra-Orthodox *** s mantra of paying no taxes, avoidance of military service, not working and surviving on public assistance, etc.
@WornoutGreenPartyGreen1mo1MO
This U.S. has its own version: “faith based initiatives” that pay massive subsidies/grants to what are essentially religious organizations. And of course there’s that tax exemption status to some of the wealthiest corporations in the world that launder money through their churches, synagogue, and mosques.
We don't. The things you mentioned are extremely unpopular across the political spectrum. They are a result of the political system in Israel. What happens is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been the main dividing line among secular Israelis, whereas the ultra-orthodox parties played a kingmaker role in coalition politics. So both sides were willing to grudgingly accept those sectorial demands as the cost of doing politics. This seems to have reached a breaking point now.
Compromise is required; I do not think this is an either-or situation. Perhaps the ultra-Orthodox could serve in supporting roles, rotating in and out to minimize interference with their religious obligations and preferences. In most militaries, for every combat soldier there are several logistical support soldiers, so this might free up men and women for combat roles. The argument that obliging the ultra-Orthodox to shoulder some form of military service would threaten the survival of the Torah seems weak on its face, given their number. The status quo is patently unfair. As for their reluctance to serve alongside women, one can only sigh.
@SnipeChrisSocialist1mo1MO
Having the Haredim do civil service in lieu of military service (an option in other nations with mandatory military service) has been proposed and rejected numerous times. They need the bodies in the yeshivas to get the maximum subsidy.
Religious extremists in every country manage to distort and inflame situations. These minorities cannot prevail.
Israel should know this.
@WelfareDeanLibertarian1mo1MO
Ah, religion. The gift that keeps on destroying and corrupting. We here in the U.S. are well on our way towards a theocratic autocracy.
If we don't get to a strict separation of church and state we are doomed as a nation.
Why should the United States keep subsidizing people who can't take time away from religious studies to make sure their country is defended and to make an equal contribution to society?
-- It doesn't take a million people to examine the depths of the Torah. I'm sure some are sincere but there's an awful lot of scamming going on as well.
-- It's perfectly possible to do military or other work that contributes to society and to the economy and to study at night and on the Sabbath.
-- Israel could not afford to keep supporting these people were it not for American taxpayers. It is especially offensive that they are subsidized to have five or seven children when people working normal jobs cannot afford to.
@M1norityDickRepublican1mo1MO
I agree the freeloading Haredim need to be checked, but it’s ridiculous to say that they’re funded by US taxpayers. Israel alone has a GDP of half a trillion dollars. The comparatively measly 4-5 billion we give them, of which 90% is specifically earmarked to only buy American weapons thus subsidizing our own domestic production, makes no real difference. It’s a mutually beneficial sweetheart deal, but people who at this point still think Israel would be crippled or have to make huge strategic changes if those funds were withdrawn need to get a reality check.
Shouldn't anyone who wants to (or is at least willing to) dedicate themselves to anything full time get exemptions and subsidies? Why is studying the Torah something exceptional in comparison to a mathematician or biologist's studies? Or for that matter, how is it any different than someone who wants to dedicate their life to playing video games all day? Shouldn't his dedication also justify an exemption and subsidies to support his lifestyle and extraordinary dedication and commitment? All sorts of responsibilities and obligations prove to be huge distractions to the hardcore gamer's drive and focus.
The hypocrisy of the Haredi is that they are among the strongest anti-Arab, pro-Settler groups in Israel yet they demand to be excused from contributing anything materially relevant to Israel's survival. Their claim that they must be supported in their study of Torah rings hollow because if they truly understood Shoftim, a section of the Torah dealing with the pursuit of justice and the rules of war, then they should understand that Israel's conduct of the war clearly violates the rules of war as understood by our ancient forebears.
The whole situation is a much bigger disaster for the entire Middle East. If Israel ceases to exist, these Haredim will have no place to call their own and exist, let alone study the Torah. Something to consider. 13% of society wanting funds and support while contributing nothing would be a huge burden for any society. That is especially true for a country where war is always imminent.
And the point is that Jewish women, whom these Haredim consider second class citizens, protect them risking their own lives, while the Haredim men do nothing.
This is a make-or-break moment in Israel's history -- either the state will finally establish firm control over the religious community, or it will continue allow it to function outside the normal boundaries of society, breeding resentment and anger among mainstream Israelis. At a time when the future of the country is under threat from so many different angles, it is unfathomable that a sizeable community manages to evade any responsibility for state security. The present situation cannot stand.
@Diplom4cyMikeyGreen1mo1MO
Society is transactional. Men can’t expect to attend all male schools paid for by the government, fly on planes exclusively for male passengers, and refuse to serve their country which provides food, services, and protection for them.
Christian monasteries tucked away in the Alps support a life of spiritual isolation while making liqueurs and jam to sell, incorporating business into their tradition. Amish communities make furniture, crafts, quilts, bridles for income. There’s nothing wrong with practicing an ascetic religious approach if concessions are made to modern life. The Haredim demand to be serviced absolutely.
Once again, we see the problem when religion is injected into government.
Our founders were not prescient, but they were wise and aware of why most of us came here...to avoid religious interference in our lives.
@9L7T3T31mo1MO
Anyone who purposely avoids mandatory military service, such as the draft, should be punished equally regardless of their religious beliefs.
@HouseHeronTranshumanist1mo1MO
Since the brouhaha with the Israeli Supreme Court, I have wondered whether or not the solution is a 3-state solution. One for Palestinians, one for ultra-orthodox Israelis, and one for the less extreme-right Israelis (who fully participate in their civil society).
Of course, these settlements and borders would be separately and independently governed by each and every of the three states.
The US might benefit from similar—one nation for MAGA and their billionaire puppeteers and one for those who believe in participating in a functioning civil society.
One can daydream….
Perfect example of what happens when secular government makes "little" concessions to religion. They eventually become big problems. A lot of slippery-slope arguments tend to be bogus. But in this case, they've already slipped down the slope.
Settlers in Israel who are generally Hasidic or at least very religious are attacking the Palestinians who live in Israel and provoking war. If they can do that, they can put their own lives on the line like the rest of Israelis. Let them experience the atrocities of actual war, see the consequences of Israel’s hateful actions for Palestinians. Maybe then they’ll consider following some sort of conscience if they actually have one.
Just a note.. save the “you’re anti semetic” comments. I’m Jewish, and detest what I see as genocide.
Why should the United States keep subsidizing people who can't take time away from religious studies to make sure their country is defended and to make an equal contribution to society?
-- It doesn't take a million people to examine the depths of the Torah. I'm sure some are sincere but there's an awful lot of scamming going on as well.
-- It's perfectly possible to do military or other work that contributes to society and to the economy and to study at night and on the Sabbath.
-- Israel could not afford to keep supporting these people were it not for American taxpayers. It is especially offensive that they are subsidized to have five or seven children when people working normal jobs cannot afford to.
@IngeniousL1bertyGreen1mo1MO
This is the debate in Israel?
Not whether it is legitimate to starve a civilian population? Or why it is necessary to destroy civilian infrastructure required for life? The legitimacy of seizing more land in the West Bank to build more settlement? How Israel can remain a democratic Jewish state with 7 million Arabs within the borders of Greater Israel?
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
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