Israel has begun enlisting its first batch of ultra-Orthodox recruits into a new brigade after a Supreme Court ruling ended decades-long exemptions from military service. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have enlisted 50 initial recruits and will add another 100 for reserve service, marking the start of establishing an ultra-Orthodox brigade.
The move comes after Israel’s war in the Middle East strained its military and a one-year conflict against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed groups. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jews could no longer be exempt from military service.
However, the decision has been met with widespread opposition from the Haredi community, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on for his governing coalition. Thousands have protested and some defied the draft order, leading to 1,126 arrest warrants issued in November.
Many ultra-Orthodox Jews do not participate in mandatory military service due to their focus on religious studies at yeshivas, but many Israelis believe that all Jewish citizens should serve during wartime. The IDF plans to enlist more recruits throughout the month to join those already recruited for basic training.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/05/middleeast/israel-enlist-first-ultra-orthodox-brigade-intl-latam/index.html