An ultra-Orthodox man walks past a sign of a recruiting office of Israeli army in Jerusalem, on June 25, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza.
In a unanimous ruling, the judges concluded that "there is no legal foundation" for the long-standing military exemption granted to Jewish ultra-Orthodox seminary students and that the country's mandatory service laws must also be enforced for ultra-Orthodox men.
Referring to Israel's almost nine-month-long war in Gaza, the court said that "at the height of a difficult war, the burden of inequality is more than ever acute."
Most Jewish Israeli men and women are required to serve under the mandatory conscription law, while ultra-Orthodox students have largely been exempted for decades. The longstanding exemptions have been a growing source of anger and controversy, particularly since the onset of the war, in which more than 660 soldiers have been killed.
The ultra-Orthodox parties, key partners in Netanyahu's far-right governing coalition, strongly object to any change to these waivers. They have threatened to leave the coalition should the exemptions be revoked, potentially causing the government to dissolve and triggering new elections. ■
Ultra-Orthodox men are seen near a sign of a recruiting office of Israeli army in Jerusalem, on June 25, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Photo taken on June 25, 2024 shows a sign of a recruiting office of Israeli army in Jerusalem. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
An ultra-Orthodox man stands by a sign of a recruiting office of Israeli army in Jerusalem, on June 25, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Members of Israeli police take away an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man protesting against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Members of Israeli police take away an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man protesting against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man protests against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Members of Israeli police take away an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man protesting against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against Israeli Supreme Court's ruling in Bnei Brak, Israel, on June 27, 2024. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must draft ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a decision that threatens to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government amid the war in Gaza. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
