In a landmark decision, Israel's Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men for compulsory service. This ruling ends a decades-old system that granted broad exemptions to ultra-Orthodox men, while maintaining mandatory enlistment for the secular Jewish majority. The decision is expected to have significant political repercussions, potentially leading to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, which relies heavily on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties. The court also ordered the freezing of funds for religious institutions that do not comply with the draft requirements starting April 1. The ruling comes amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza and heightened security concerns, making the issue of military conscription more pressing. Orthodox leaders have expressed strong opposition, with one minister warning that the decision could lead to a “two states” scenario as they refuse to accept army service. There are about 60,000 eligible draftees from the haredi community.
