TIMES OF ISRAEL
In ‘historic’ step, High Court orders halt to yeshiva funds for students eligible for draft
Jeremy Sharon
March 28, 2024

In a step that could have deep political and societal ramifications, the High Court of Justice issued an interim order Thursday evening barring the government from providing funds to ultra-Orthodox yeshivas for students eligible for IDF enlistment — as the legal framework for deferring their military service will no longer exist…The political battle over enlistment has thrown Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition into disarray, with National Unity’s Benny Gantz threatening to bolt if the Knesset passes a bill allowing blanket exemptions to remain — even if it does satisfy the court — while the Haredim have said they will quit if the government fails to pass legislation to prevent the draft. READ MORE

UPI Ultra-orthodox rabbi says citizens will leave Israel over draft, drawing ire from lawmakers Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, said Saturday that citizens will leave the country if they are forced to be drafted — drawing the ire of lawmakers. “Will they force us to join the army? We will go abroad,” Yosef said. The Haredim have long enjoyed exemptions from mandatory military service, but the issue has sparked debates between those calling for fairness in military service and those advocating religious freedom.