Large majority of IDF reservists oppose ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions

The survey polled 800 reservists who fought in the Israel-Hamas War.

By ANNA BARSKY DECEMBER 19, 2024 12:49

IDF SOLDIERS pray during a break in a haredi unit’s training exercise. If haredi parents and rabbinic leaders could be assured that their sons would complete their service as they entered – as observant, ultra-Orthodox Jews – there would be more grassroots support, the writer maintains. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

A large and diverse majority of IDF reservists agree that Israel cannot continue to offer military service exemption to its ultra-Orthodox population, a recent survey revealed. 

The survey, which polled 800 reservists who fought in the Israel-Hamas War, was commissioned by the “Shoulder to Shoulder” organization and conducted by the Dialogue Institute.

A total of 77% of respondents agreed that, following the events of October 7, the State of Israel can no longer afford to continue exempting the ultra-Orthodox from military service.

The survey reveals cross-political agreement. A total of 65% of religious respondents and 76% of right-wing respondents support drafting the ultra-Orthodox. 

Furthermore, 73% of reservists believe that any law that does not lead to significant recruitment of ultra-Orthodox youth is un-Zionist and harms those currently serving.

Top 10 photographs of the decade (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Another finding of the survey indicated that only 18% of respondents supported an agreed-upon law with ultra-Orthodox leadership that would exempt the majority of the ultra-Orthodox community. 

Conversely, 71% oppose such a law. Opposition is also significant among religious (60%) and right-wing (64%) respondents.

The survey's implications could be substantial for the political system. 

Three-fifths of respondents stated they would consider not voting for a party that supports an exemption law, including 35% of religious and 48% of right-wing respondents.

Jonathan Shilo, one of the founders of “Shoulder to Shoulder,” emphasized the central message of the study’s findings. 

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“The world for all of us changed on October 7,” Shilo said. “We are fighting shoulder to shoulder for the state.” 

He added that the most painful statistic is that nearly half of the reservists said they might not report for reserve duty if the ultra-Orthodox are not drafted.

Bennett on the rise among reservists polled 

An additional notable finding in the survey was the marked support the reservists expressed for former prime minister Naftali Bennett. 

One in five reservists intended to vote for his party, in contrast to the sharp decline of Otzma Yehudit, which dropped to just 7% support. 

Another statistic showed that 45% of reservists stated that an exemption law for the ultra-Orthodox would harm their motivation to report for reserve duty in the future. 

“The exemption law for the ultra-Orthodox harms state security and creates a genuine fracture in Israeli society,” Shiloadded.