Israel Must Draft the ultra-Orthodox to Share the National Burden

January 20, 2024

Editorial

JFJFP

Tags: 2023 Israel-Gaza War, army reservists, Benjamin Netanyahu, burden of military service, IDF, Ultra-Orthodox

Haredi men demonstrating at an IDF recruitment center in Jerusalem.Credit: Olivier Fitoussi

Haaretz Editorial Jan 18, 2024

With one fell swoop, the catastrophe of October 7 changed a host of security-related paradigms. These changes include a drastic increase in the defense budget after four decades of shrinking its percentage of the GDP; an extension of the duration of obligatory military service after it had been shortened to 32 months and was expected to be cut further; and a massive mobilization of reserve soldiers for the longest period since the Yom Kippur War. Reserve units that had just concluded a 90-100-day stint that included combat in Gaza were demobilized in recent days with the knowledge that they will be called up again for a lengthy period in the coming months.

Only one paradigm did not change, despite the catastrophe: drafting the ultra-Orthodox. Even in calm times, the inequality in sharing the burden is troublesome, but in a prolonged war that is expected to continue throughout this year and possibly beyond, this constitutes a severe injustice toward those who serve. People who serve do enjoy the public’s gratitude and recognition, as well as some financial benefits, but money is not the answer to inequality. Conscript and reserve IDF soldiers deserve more than that, including true solidarity and the participation of Haredi men in sharing the burden of military service.

Hundreds of thousands of reservists were taken away from their families, businesses and studies in recent months, mobilized to protect the citizens of Israel. This is a sacrifice no matter how one looks at it, and it also carries a mortal risk. Two-thirds of the casualties in this war have been reservists.

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