The Israeli military has enlisted its first batch of ultra-Orthodox recruits, marking a significant milestone in expanding the service of the ultra-Orthodox sector in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The move comes after the Supreme Court ruled in June that ultra-Orthodox Jews could no longer be exempt from military service, a decision that has been deeply unpopular with the community.
The first batch of about 50 recruits was enlisted on Sunday, with an additional 100 ultra-Orthodox recruits expected to be enlisted for reserve service by the end of the day. The IDF plans to enlist more recruits throughout the month to join those already in basic training.
The decision to enlist ultra-Orthodox Jews comes as the IDF faces operational needs arising from the demands of war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed groups in the Middle East. The vast majority of ultra-Orthodox Jews do not participate in the country’s mandatory military service, instead spending much of their early lives studying at religious schools known as yeshivas.
However, many Israelis believe that all Jewish citizens should serve in the military, especially during wartime. The move has been met with protests and defiance from some ultra-Orthodox Jews, with thousands taking to the streets to protest the draft and some even refusing to comply with the order.
The IDF has undertaken an extensive preparation process to accommodate the ultra-Orthodox recruits, including identifying and training personnel, adapting policies, renovating the training base, and adjusting it to accommodate the ultra-Orthodox way of life.