Strictly Orthodox anger as Israel’s defence minister issues army draft orders

Israel’s new Defence Minister Israel Katz has agreed the dispatch of 7,000 new army draft orders for Charedi men, provoking fury among strictly Orthodox members of the governing coalition.

The orders had been approved by his predecessor Yoav Gallant, controversially fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for, among other things, his outspoken opposition to exemptions for strictly Orthodox yeshivah students from the army.

According to the Times of Israel, an official of United Torah Judaism described the move as having “declared war” on the Charedim.

The first 1,000 papers will go out on Sunday with the rest over the coming months, the website reported.

Strictly Orthodox parties have been pressing for new legislation that would grant exemptions to religious students but Gallant had fiercely contested the idea.

Katz’s decision was welcomed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, who tweeted: “I said in the Knesset that if you send the 7,000 draft orders to the ultra-Orthodox, soldiers and reservists will know that you are there for them.”

Katz’s ministry has reportedly said that he intended to hold discussions with all parties to try to find a solution, which would allow “a true integration of the ultra-Orthodox into the IDF to ease the burden on the conscript, career and reserve soldiers”.

The exemption of yeshivah students goes back to the earliest days of the state when it was agreed in order to help rebuild the traditions of Torah study following the destruction of Jewish life in the Shoah.

But last year, 66,000 strictly Orthodox men were spared call-up to military service.

The issue has become even more contentious this year after the outbreak of war since religious Zionist men, who combine Torah study with army duty, have borne a heavy share of casualties.

Charedi rabbis believe that their students would risk losing their piety in the more secular culture of the army. Some argue that Torah study helps to create a protective shield for the country.

But critics point to the example of the religious Zionists, who have maintained their faith while risking their lives for the country.