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Who wins in war over ultra-Orthodox army draft?

Experts claim that the key to the ultra-Orthodox army draft is not canceling the current law, but creating a constructive dialogue with the ultra-Orthodox leadership.
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Supreme Court justices claim that their Sept. 12 decision to overturn the amendment to the Recruitment law, passed by this government in 2015, was intended to force new legislation that would treat Israeli citizens more equitably. In fact, according to the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) assessment, it will actually hinder the dramatic growth in the number of ultra-Orthodox men who enlist. The reason is that the increase in drafting numbers stems from understandings between the army and the ultra-Orthodox leaders, which are based on a conciliatory mood within the ultra-Orthodox sector (as the law no longer forces them to draft). The new ruling revives the sense of persecution within the sector, strengthening the extremists who object to integration into Israeli society in general, and an army draft in particular.

A panel of nine judges ruled 8-1 that the Knesset must repeal the amendment within a year. The amendment allows yeshiva students to extend their exemption up to 2023, effectively releasing them from compulsory military duty. According to the justices, the amendment was unconstitutional. Justice Elyakim Rubinstein wrote, "Military service in the Israel Defense Forces is exactly what the name implies. It is a defense force, defending all of us, and not some default choice for people forced into it by the powers that be. As long as the current saga continues, laws will come and go, while the bitter feeling of inequality continues."

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