By Emily Rose
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s military on Sunday issued call-up notices to more members of the ultra-Orthodox community to reinforce its forces as it battles on its southern and northern borders, a move that has sparked outrage among religious and secular Israelis. can further inflame tensions between .
The Supreme Court ruled in June that the Defense Ministry could no longer exempt Jewish seminary students from military service, an arrangement dating back to Israel’s founding in 1948 when ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, numbers were high. small
As Israel fights wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s Defense Ministry said Friday that 7,000 members of the community would receive the notices gradually, starting Sunday.
A Defense Ministry statement said it would work with community leaders to ensure ultra-Orthodox soldiers could preserve their religious lifestyle while serving in the military.
In July, the army conscripted 1,000 ultra-Orthodox men. The new policy change has been opposed by two religious parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, putting severe pressure on the right-wing coalition.
Leaders of the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox community say forcing seminary students to serve alongside secular Israelis, including women, risks destroying their religious Jewish identity.
The government is facing growing pressure from Israeli reservists, many of whom have served for much of the past year, to draft ultra-Orthodox members.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported Sunday that some rabbis are urging those receiving the notice to refuse.
