Israeli military operations in Gaza and the mobilization of an additional 60,000 reservists have sharpened a fraught domestic battle over mandatory military service for Ultra‑Orthodox Jews, fueling political strain within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
The Israel Defense Forces said it recently completed the encirclement of Tel al‑Sultan in Gaza as part of operations that have required prolonged service by reservists. The intensified campaign and the scale of mobilization have renewed pressure on the government to resolve a decades‑old exemption for full‑time yeshiva students known as "Torato manuto," under which men who study Torah instead of serving in the armed forces were historically excused from conscription.
The exemption originated during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence under Prime Minister David Ben‑Gurion and initially applied to a few hundred students. Today, Ultra‑Orthodox Jews make up roughly 15% of Israel’s population of about 10 million, and demographers project that share could rise to roughly one‑third by 2050 because of higher birth rates, increasing the political and fiscal implications of the policy.
The issue fractured Netanyahu’s coalition before the Knesset adjourned for its summer recess. Likud lawmaker Yuli Edelstein said the ideal outcome would allow full‑time Torah students to continue their studies while requiring those not engaged in religious learning to enlist. "The army needs them, Israel needs them, and it’s manageable — we can do it. What makes it difficult is the lack of an oversight mechanism that the Haredim would agree to," Edelstein told Fox News Digital.
Edelstein was removed as chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in July by his own party after publicly accusing Ultra‑Orthodox lawmakers of refusing to compromise on legislation intended to address the draft. The Ultra‑Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas withdrew from the coalition in protest over the failure to secure legal exemptions, though they did not join opposition no‑confidence motions that could have brought down the government.
The Knesset is scheduled to reconvene for its winter session next month, giving Netanyahu limited time to negotiate a solution that could satisfy secular and religious voters as well as the military’s manpower needs.
Ido Keren, founder of the cross‑political reservist group Katef Le Katef ("Shoulder to Shoulder"), said the shortage of personnel identified by the army underscores the urgency of change. "The IDF chief of staff has said there is a shortage of 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers, and these gaps must be filled," Keren told Fox News Digital. He argued that universal conscription is both a security necessity and a matter of equality, and that enforcement should rely on economic sanctions rather than criminal penalties to compel service and encourage workforce participation among Ultra‑Orthodox men.
Former United Torah Judaism lawmaker Moshe Roth traced the dispute to the founding years of the state and the perceived national need for a segment of society devoted to Torah study. He noted that about two decades ago the Israeli High Court ruled the longstanding arrangement illegal for violating principles of equality, prompting repeated and unsuccessful legislative attempts to reform conscription for Haredim.
"It has become politically charged and weaponized. Many parties use it as a tool to win votes, which has made passing a law extremely difficult. Even when the Knesset succeeds, the High Court often rules that it falls short," Roth said, adding that the Oct. 7 attacks and the ensuing war have made the issue even more sensitive.
The military has signaled both a need for broader participation and steps to accommodate religious soldiers. During a tour of the Gaza Strip, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called for enlistment from all sectors, saying, "Israel’s security requires the full partnership of all parts of the nation. This is a civic duty and a national imperative. I call on everyone to enlist and contribute their share equally; this is the call of the hour."
The IDF has made institutional changes to permit religious observance within combat units. The Netzach Yehuda battalion, formerly Nahal Haredi, and a new Hasmonean Brigade have accommodated Ultra‑Orthodox recruits who serve while observing strict religious practices. The military announced in June that it would issue more than 50,000 draft orders to yeshiva students and planned to increase enforcement against draft evasion.
Those advocating continued exemptions cite cultural and operational concerns. Roth said the army’s progressive norms could be altered by large numbers of yeshiva students joining the ranks and that integration could affect gender dynamics in mixed units. The IDF has historically adjusted units and training to balance religious requirements with operational effectiveness.
Reservists and advocacy groups have staged protests and demonstrations calling for equality in service obligations, arguing that protracted deployments during the Gaza campaign have left many families and communities under strain. Demonstrations have included rallies outside military facilities and government offices, reflecting deep public frustration over the perceived inequity.
Political analysts say any legislative solution must thread a narrow needle: addressing the army’s urgent manpower shortfall while avoiding a backlash that could further destabilize an already fragile coalition. Netanyahu faces competing imperatives — shoring up military capacity for an expected Gaza City offensive while preserving a governing majority that includes parties with divergent views on religion and state.
For now, the debate continues amid wartime pressures. The IDF’s operational needs, judicial rulings, demographic trends and the political calculus of coalition partners will shape whether Israel pursues broader conscription, expands accommodations within the military, or opts for a hybrid approach that uses economic levers to increase enlistment among the Ultra‑Orthodox.
Reporting for this article relied on statements made to Fox News Digital, public Israeli government and military announcements and interviews with political and civil society figures involved in the conscription debate.