Israel Haredi conscription

Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet and most Israelis oppose his draft bill to perpetuate or even extend historic exemptions from military service to ultra-Orthodox Haredi men

Military service: Most Jewish men are required to serve in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 32 months from age 18, followed by reserve duty. Jewish women serve two years

1948: Israel’s founder, David Ben Gur­ion (left), allows some 400 young Haredi strictly-Ortho­dox men to avoid
con­scrip­tion if they attend yeshiva, or reli­gious school

1999: Supreme Court determines that exemption is illegal

2002: Knesset passes Tal Law, exempting yeshiva students from IDF service

2012: Supreme Court declares Tal Law unconstitutional

2014: Netanyahu-led government passes controversial law to draft small number of Haredi men into military

2015: Netanyahu reverses 2014 law in deal to bring ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism and Shas parties into coalition

2018: Defence minister Avigdor Lieberman (left) plans to reduce state funding for yeshivas if Haredim don’t
meet conscription quotas. Ultra-Orthodox parties oppose plan

Oct 7, 2023: Following Hamas attacks, Israel activates 360,000 reservists.

Out of 13,000 eligible candidates, only 1,200 Haredim join IDF each year

War cabinet: Made up of defence minister Yoav Gallant (above left), Benny Gantz (right) and Netanyahu, plus observers. Both Gallant and Gantz oppose bill

Should exemption from military service be changed?
All Israelis* 
YES 64%
NO 22%
Ultra-Othodox
YES 19%
NO 69%

*Poll by Institute for National Security Studies of 750 adults, Feb 28-Mar 4. Margin of error: ±3.7

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