The Israeli army begins calling up ultra-Orthodox Jews for recruitment

The Attorney General announced that the Israeli army has already begun calling up ultra-Orthodox Israelis for conscription, after the end of the two-decade military exemption, which took effect last Monday.

“As of April 1, 2024, there will be no source of authority for general exemption from compulsory military service for students in Religious schools [instituições de ensino]“The defense establishment must work to recruit them for military service in accordance with the law,” Gali Baharav Meara wrote in a letter to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

According to Israeli media, some of the religious students are from Religious schools — There are currently about 63,000 registrants — who received an order in the past few days, known in Hebrew as Tsav Rishon, informing them that they must undergo an initial assessment.

It is not yet known whether ultra-Orthodox Jews will comply with the order, although many analysts believe it is unlikely that military police will arrest them to enforce their conscription.

This issue sparked great controversy among the various parties that make up the coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who requested a fourth extension of this exemption, which was last renewed in June of last year and which was scheduled to expire next April.

Netanyahu took this step knowing that he relied on vital support from the two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, with the ability to oust the executive.

During these weeks, the debate also took to the streets, where soldiers' families organized protests to demand an end to this privilege that ultra-Orthodox Jews, who represent 13% of the population, have enjoyed for more than two decades.