The Israeli parliament has approved new legislation that effectively bars ultra-Orthodox men from being enlisted into the military. This move is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy to gain support from religious political parties ahead of the upcoming fall elections.

The session was extensive, lasting from Monday to Tuesday, during which lawmakers voted to halt the arrest of ultra-Orthodox who avoid enlistment. In addition, the legislation establishes Jewish religious studies as a ‘foundational value’ for the state.

These laws are significant concessions from Netanyahu’s Likud party to ultra-Orthodox politicians, who aim to formally exempt their community from mandatory military service, a requirement for most Jewish men and women in Israel.

The military is already facing a shortage of personnel, and many citizens are frustrated with the system that allows ultra-Orthodox men to skip service. A parliamentary committee highlights that approximately 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach the enlistment age of 18 each year, yet less than 10% sign up.

The laws are introduced after nearly three years marked by conflicts spanning Gaza to Lebanon and Iran. They precede the summer recess of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, which will resume only days before the parliamentary elections on October 27. These elections will also serve as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership during wartime.

Netanyahu, the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israel’s history, seeks the support of the ultra-Orthodox community, known as Haredim, in the forthcoming elections. According to Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, head of the Religion and State Program at the Israel Democracy Institute, Netanyahu is aiming to secure exclusive negotiations with the Haredim post-elections.

However, Netanyahu faces considerable opposition, even within his own party and from the military chief of staff. Ravitsky Tur-Paz mentions a letter from military chief Eyal Zamir directed to Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. In the letter, Zamir criticized the legislation as ‘incompatible’ with the military’s requirements.

The exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox date back to Israel’s founding in 1948, when a select few sought to revive Jewish studies after they had suffered during the Holocaust.

Later on, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled these exemptions as unlawful. Experts argue that the new law, emphasizing Torah studies, provides a legal platform for the state to contest court decisions.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the law as a ‘desecration’ and disrespect to Israeli soldiers. In contrast, Moshe Gafni, the ultra-Orthodox legislator behind the bill, sees its enactment as historic. ‘For thousands of years, Torah study has been the force preserving the Jewish people throughout the diaspora and across generations,’ stated Gafni, adding that the law will serve as a ‘compass for the state’s values.’