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The Israeli army on Sunday sent out the first batch of 1,000 draft orders to ultra-Orthodox men, in a move that could threaten the Israeli government. The move came after the Supreme Court of Israel said their exemption from service was illegal.
A total of 3,000 draft orders will be sent to men who the army believes are not engaged in full-time study. The original exemption from armed service was for ultra-Orthodox Jews who are studying Jewish texts full-time and believe that their prayer and study contribute to Israeli society.
Several prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbis have urged their students to ignore the draft orders, which could lead to their arrest. Moshe Roth, an ultra-Orthodox lawmaker says he does not believe many ultra-Orthodox men will eventually serve.
"It's more of a declaration than anything else, it doesn't add anything to the defense issue at this time," said Roth.
Israeli army officials disagree. They say there is a shortfall of at least 6,000 soldiers in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Many Israelis say it is also a matter of principle and the court decision is meant to provide greater equality.
Israeli Jewish men serve for two years and eight months and women for two years. Arab citizens of Israel are not drafted, although some do volunteer. Until the Supreme Court ruling last month, some 63,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews received automatic exemptions from service.
Some ultra-Orthodox rabbis worry that contact with secular Israeli society may prompt at least some of the ultra-Orthodox leave their religion.
Ariel Kelner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party said he understands the army's need for more soldiers.
"But we are also committed that the haredim that the ultra-Orthodox community will also feel comfortable in the army," Kelner said.
The men who received the draft orders have two weeks to report to the induction center to begin the process. Some of Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox coalition partners say they will pull out of the government, which could bring down Netanyahu's coalition. Other Israeli analysts say that as long as the number remains small, like the current 3,000, the ultra-Orthodox parties will not leave the government.