Military Space News
WAR REPORT
Israel defence minister says ultra-Orthodox should serve
Israel defence minister says ultra-Orthodox should serve
by AFP Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) Feb 29, 2024

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has called for members of the ultra-Orthodox community to be required to perform military service like other Israeli Jews as the Gaza war rages on.

"We must all bear the burden," Gallant said, addressing what has long been a divisive political issue in a country with mandatory military service for most citizens.

Since Israel was founded in 1948, Jewish men who study the Torah full-time in a seminary are granted an annual deferment from military service until the age of 26, at which point they become exempt.

But since the war in Gaza erupted after Hamas's October 7 attack, a decades-old debate around these exemptions has taken on a new urgency.

On Wednesday, Gallant called for an end to the exemptions, saying he would back legislation to this effect if it is endorsed by centrist ministers in the war cabinet of right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"An immediate need arises for the extension of military service for our active soldiers and the prolongation of reserve duty for reservists," Gallant told journalists on Wednesday evening.

"It is not a matter of choice. We must stand firm in defending our homeland.

"It is possible and important to reach an agreed framework for a draft (law), even for a growing part of the ultra-Orthodox community which is already contributing to the civilian effort," he said.

Gallant's comments have raised fears of a political crisis in Israel at a time when it is fighting Hamas militants in Gaza.

A deadlock over the issue could threaten Netanyahu's coalition of ultra-Orthodox and religious nationalist parties.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Netanyahu voiced confidence the issue could be resolved.

"We will find an agreement for (the ultra-Orthodox) to join the army or the civilian service, even if not everyone will be satisfied," Netanyahu said.

"(An) election now would block everything... Gallant knows that we cannot move towards elections during the war."

- Growing resentment -

The exemptions given to ultra-Orthodox seminary students have ballooned as the community's population has grown over the decades.

This has fuelled resentment among Israeli society at large.

Israel called up more than 300,000 military reservists as it launched its costly war against Hamas following the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Gallant called on Netanyahu "to lead a shared process with all coalition parties and reach necessary agreements on the issue of a draft law".

Gallant said the bill needs backing from all parties.

"Without agreement from all parts of the coalition, the defence establishment that I head will not submit the law," he said.

His remarks were welcomed by centrist cabinet minister Benny Gantz, a former defence minister who joined Netanyahu's emergency coalition after the war began.

Gallant's remarks drew criticism from Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, a member of the far-right Jewish Power faction in Netanyahu's government.

"There is no possibility whatsoever to draft this community forcibly," Eliyahu told army radio.

"At the moment I prefer unity of the people of Israel and the country to the government collapsing" over this issue, he said.

Related Links
Space War News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WAR REPORT
Pentagon chief says Israel killed 25,000 Palestinian women, children
Washington (AFP) Feb 29, 2024
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers Thursday that Israel had killed more than 25,000 Palestinian women and children since October, but the Pentagon later clarified he was citing the overall toll from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. "It's over 25,000," Austin responded when asked during a House Armed Services Committee hearing for the figure on women and children killed. Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 peo ... read more

WAR REPORT
BAE Systems to pioneer ground system for Space Force's missile defense upgrade

Lockheed Martin advances in missile defense with key acquisition milestone

L3Harris Technologies Launches New Satellites to Enhance US Missile Defense

SpaceX launches batch of satellites for Space Systems Command

WAR REPORT
Raytheon and Kongsberg Achieve Milestone with First Flight Test of Advanced AMRAAM-ER Variant

UK says Ukraine's 'business' how donated cruise missiles used

Zelensky urges Western air defence as Russian attacks kill 11

Scholz defends refusal to send long-range missiles to Ukraine

WAR REPORT
5 killed in Russian drone attack on Ukrainian port of Odesa

'Stressed' drone batteries could be used in low-demand roles

German navy almost shot down US drone in Red Sea: reports

United Aircraft Launches Innovative Tiltrotor UAV Concept at Singapore Airshow

WAR REPORT
Multi-orbit SATCOM solution by Hughes selected for AFRL's DEUCSI initiative

Luxembourg DoD Partners with SES and HITEC to Augment SATCOM Ground Infrastructure

Pony Express 2 Mission Ready to Enhance Military Connectivity with Innovative Space Technologies

Viasat Installs Advanced SATCOM System on First U.S. Navy MSC Ship

WAR REPORT
Swedish man charged over military base secrets

As Italy prepares security deal with Ukraine, White House announces PM's visit in March

Ammunition shortage hurting Ukraine, Zelensky tells Munich meeting

Ammunition shortage hurting Ukraine, Zelensky tells Munich meeting

WAR REPORT
House committee grills Lloyd Austin over handling of hospitalization

Use Russian asset profits to arm Ukraine: EU chief

Man held in Spain for illegal military exports to Saudi

European allies pledge to plug Ukraine weapons shortages; no consensus on ground troops

WAR REPORT
Swedes say 'too many sacrifices' made for NATO bid: poll

Possible Saudi Olympic pavilion at Napoleon's tomb sparks unease

New Finland president eyes 'difficult' security decisions

Papua New Guinea and Indonesia finalise defence deal

WAR REPORT
Researchers unveil novel technique for creating atomically thin nanoscrolls

MIT.nano equipment to accelerate innovation in "tough tech" sectors

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.