The issue of recruiting ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) has returned to constitute a crisis within the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli media reported that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was attacked by Netanyahu and other ministers, due to the laws on recruiting Haredim and extending military service, which Gallant supported amid government rejection.

The media reported that Netanyahu attacked his Defense Minister Gallant, noting that “allowing the opposition to overthrow the government will stop the chance of releasing the kidnapped people,” in reference to the deal negotiations with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

The religious and right-wing parties allied with Netanyahu are threatening to topple his government if they proceed with recruiting the Haredim, especially after the Supreme Court’s decision last month, which ruled to impose the recruitment of Haredi Jews in the army on the government. The decision also stipulated a freeze on the budget of religious schools, and it said in its decision that there is no basis. Legal to prevent the government from recruiting Haredi Jews into the Israeli army.

Israeli Channel 13 quoted Gallant as saying in the Council of Ministers that his ministry will work “to recruit more than 3,000 Haredim due to the urgent need for this.”

Currently, when the Haredim reach 18 years (the age for joining military service in Israel), the Haredim are able to avoid conscription into the army by obtaining repeated postponements of one year under the pretext of studying in religious schools, until they reach the age of exemption from conscription (currently 26 years).

The Ynet news website reported that Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, from the Likud Party, addressed the Haredim, telling them, "You must sanctify the Israeli army. You must be in high positions, including the General Staff." Gallant responded by saying: “In order to become chief of staff, you must start as a soldier.” In reference to the necessity of recruiting the Haredim.

Extension of military service

In an attempt to disrupt the vote on the Haredi law; Israeli Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknov and ministers from the Haredi parties linked the approval of the law extending compulsory service in the army to the approval of the draft exemption law for the Haredim, according to the Israel Today newspaper.

Regarding extending compulsory service in the army, Maariv newspaper reported that a verbal altercation took place between Gallant and Communications Minister Shlomo Karai from the Likud Party and other ministers regarding extending compulsory service in the Israeli army for soldiers.

Gallant had called on Netanyahu last month to urgently discuss extending regular army service to 3 years.

The proposed law includes that reserve soldiers serve until the age of 41 years, and reserve officers until the age of 46 years, and the new law requires reserve soldiers to serve in the army until the age of 40 years, and reserve officers until the age of 45 years.

The previous conscription law expired on June 30, which highlights an urgent need to approve the new law.